JERUSALEM — The remains of a woman who was a mother to two young boys, taken to Gaza at the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict, have been returned to Israel. This development brings the total closer to the 33 hostages expected to be released following a ceasefire agreement initiated last month.

The case of Ariel and Kfir Bibas has drawn significant attention in Israel since the boys were abducted during the brutal Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. Israel officially identified the boys, along with an 83-year-old hostage named Oded Lifshitz, after their remains were returned on Thursday. The remains of the boys’ mother, Shiri Bibas, were subsequently returned after an initial confusion about another body.

According to the ceasefire deal’s initial phase, 33 hostages in Gaza — with eight confirmed deceased — were to be released in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. Additionally, five Thai workers who were in Israel at the time of the attack were freed last month as part of a different agreement.

During the October 7 assault, Hamas militants kidnapped 251 people. Currently, more than 60 hostages are still in Gaza, with approximately half of them assumed dead. The others have either been released, rescued, or recovered deceased.

The following outlines the hostages that have been returned so far:

**Ariel and Kfir Bibas**

The bodies of Ariel and Kfir Bibas were returned on Thursday, with their mother Shiri’s remains arriving the following day. Hamas has stated that the family was killed in an Israeli airstrike. Their father, Yarden Bibas, was also taken during the same raid but was released alive earlier this month. A distressing video of the family’s abduction, showing Shiri wrapping her two young sons in a blanket, was widely circulated shortly after the attack.

At the time of their abduction, Ariel was just 4 years old, while Kfir was a mere 9 months old, making him the youngest hostage captured by Hamas. Ariel had a fondness for Batman, and family photographs depict the Bibas family in character costumes. Kfir’s adorable red hair and toothless grin became a poignant symbol of the widespread anguish and anger regarding the hostages’ fate.

**Oded Lifshitz, 84**

The remains of Oded Lifshitz, one of the senior hostages held by the militants, were returned on Thursday as confirmed by his family. He had been taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz alongside his wife, Yocheved Lifshitz, who was released during a temporary ceasefire in November 2023. His family expressed profound sorrow, stating they had hoped for a different outcome. “Now we can mourn the husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather who has been missing from us since October 7,” they said. Oded, a journalist, was a tireless advocate for peace and recognition of Palestinian rights and continued to work for humanitarian causes even after retirement.

**Sagui Dekel Chen, 36**

Dekel Chen, an Israeli-American, was abducted while working on his pet project of bus conversions during the attack. Prior to his capture, he had told his pregnant wife to take their two daughters to a safe room. Chen was one of the first to alert others about the infiltration at their kibbutz. His wife Avital gave birth to their third daughter while he was held captive.

**Iair Horn, 46**

Iair Horn was taken captive alongside his brother Eitan Horn, who remains in captivity. A manager of the kibbutz pub, Iair is an avid fan of a local soccer team. Celebration erupted at the kibbutz pub following his release, with friends gathering to toast his safe return.

**Alexander (Sasha) Troufanov, 29**

Sasha Troufanov, along with his girlfriend and family members, was also taken hostage during the attack. His father, Vitaly, was killed, while other relatives were released during the ceasefire. Sasha, who has a background in engineering, was believed to be held by another militant group and appeared in videos while in captivity.

**Others**

The list of other hostages and their situations is extensive, including Eli Sharabi, whose family suffered great losses; Ohad Ben Ami, who was taken with his wife; Or Levy, whose wife was killed during the attack; and several Thai workers who were captured. Each of these individuals has a unique and troubling story that reflects the deep personal tragedies unfolding amid this ongoing conflict.

As more hostages are released, the efforts and hopes of their families continue to remain at the forefront of public attention, with a clear call for the safe return of all individuals still held in captivity.