Hamas to release six hostages and hand over four bodies this week

Hamas has said it will release six more hostages on Saturday, the last of the 33 to be freed under the ceasefire’s first phase. The group also announced it will hand over the bodies of four other deceased captives on Thursday.

The next hostage release will be in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. There have thus far been six swaps carried out between the two sides.

Without providing any further details, Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya said the militant group will hand over the remains of the Bibas family, one of whom was returned alive on 1 February.

Israel confirmed the exchange, saying that four deceased hostages will be returned to Israel on Thursday, with another four to be returned next week.

Only three hostages had originally been expected to be freed on Saturday, and it was not immediately clear why the plan was changed.

An Israeli official speaking on condition of anonymity said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had agreed to allow long-requested mobile homes and construction equipment into Gaza as part of efforts to accelerate the hostages’ release.

Hamas last week threatened to pause the release of hostages, citing Israel’s refusal to allow mobile homes and heavy equipment in the Gaza Strip, among other alleged violations of the truce.

The ceasefire that began in mid-January stopped more than a year of deadly flighting between Israel and Hamas, increased the amount of aid flowing into the devastated Gaza Strip and allowed hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to return to their homes as Israeli forces withdrew from much of the territory.

The two sides have yet to negotiate the second and more difficult phase of the ceasefire, under which Hamas would release dozens more hostages in exchange for a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal.

Serious challenges lie ahead, however. Israel’s government says it wants to eliminate Hamas’ military and governing capabilities in Gaza. But the militant group quickly reasserted its control of the territory during the ceasefire, despite losing many of its high-ranking members and a substantial amount of fighters.

Furthermore, US President Donald Trump’s recent proposal to relocate the Palestinians out of Gaza so the US can redevelop the territory has been rejected by the Arab world and by the Palestinians, who fear they’ll never be allowed to return. Israel has nevertheless embraced Trump’s plan, and both have been eager to emphasise they share the same goals in the war.

Israel has said negotiations for the second phase will take place this week.

Video editor • Rory Elliott Armstrong