Hamas announced on Friday the names of six Israeli hostages it intends to release on Saturday as part of a ceasefire agreement. The Palestinian prisoners’ media office, linked to Hamas, indicated that over 600 Palestinians are also expected to be freed from Israeli prisons in return. These developments suggest that the fragile ceasefire is still intact, despite the recent tension arising from Israeli claims that the body of hostage Shiri Bibas was not returned as promised by Hamas.
The militant group stated it has no intention of withholding any remains and emphasized that the four deceased hostages it handed over on Thursday were killed in a November airstrike by Israel. Hamas claims that misidentification of bodies could have resulted from the bombardments in the area. The ceasefire in Gaza commenced on January 19, and fears are growing among Palestinians and Israeli hostage families that it may not extend into the second phase, which includes the release of additional hostages in exchange for Israel ceasing military actions.
In other developments, Palestinian health officials reported that Israeli fire resulted in the deaths of two 13-year-old Palestinians in the West Bank, as military operations there escalated. The Israeli military had not commented on these incidents at the time. These tragic events occurred against the backdrop of intensified military actions in the West Bank, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to recent bomb attacks near Tel Aviv he labeled as militant strikes. Since October 7, 2023, when the war began, over 800 Palestinians are said to have been killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank.
Separately, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he would not force a controversial plan to redevelop the Gaza Strip into a tourist destination, which involves displacing Palestinians. In a Friday interview, he expressed surprise at the negative reactions from Egypt and Jordan, nations that receive U.S. financial support. Trump maintained that his plan is advantageous but stated he would recommend it rather than impose it.
During a visit to the Tulkarem refugee camp, Netanyahu announced an increase in military troops in the West Bank and the authorization for new operations in the face of security threats. He indicated that troops would be entering areas known for militant activity to eliminate threats. While Israel claims these efforts are in response to escalating violence, many Palestinians argue that increased military operations are likely to exacerbate hostilities further.
In parallel, Saudi Arabia’s crown prince held a meeting with leaders from Gulf Cooperation Council states, Egypt, and Jordan. This assembly, described as a “brotherly gathering,” was in advance of an Arab League summit that is expected to tackle the situation in Gaza, especially after Trump’s proposal, which has been uniformly rejected by Arab nations.
Amid these discussions, Israel’s military spokesperson claimed that militants in Gaza killed two young hostages “with their bare hands,” without substantiating this assertion. The remarks followed the return of the remains of these hostages. Furthermore, Netanyahu pledged consequences for Hamas over the alleged failure to deliver Shiri Bibas’s remains, stating that Hamas would “pay the full price” for this act.
In response to the turmoil, the family of the Bibas boys expressed that there has been no apology from Netanyahu regarding the mishandling of their mother’s body. The family’s anguish underscores the uncertainty surrounding the wellbeing of hostages as fears rise that the ceasefire may not lead to a stable resolution.
Lastly, Hamas stated it would investigate the Israeli allegations regarding the identification of the remains delivered under the ceasefire agreement. The group insisted it has met all terms of the deal and reiterated that they do not wish to withhold any bodies. Hamas alluded to possible mix-ups due to Israeli attacks near where the Bibas family was held, maintaining that Shiri and her children were victims of previous airstrikes, and called for mediation in the ongoing crisis.
