Khalil al-Hayya, Hamas’s chief negotiator, stated in a speech on Tuesday that militants meant at hand over the stays of 4 Israeli hostages to Israel on Thursday in trade for the discharge of Palestinian prisoners.
Mr. al-Hayya stated that members of the Bibas household — among the best-known hostages worldwide — could be among the many 4 our bodies handed over, with out saying what number of. The three remaining members of the Bibas household within the Gaza Strip are Shiri Bibas and her two kids.
The Israeli prime minister’s workplace confirmed that the our bodies of 4 Israelis could be returned on Thursday, however officers didn’t reply to requests for remark about whether or not members of the Bibas household could be amongst them. The Israeli navy had stated till not too long ago that there have been grave issues for the lives of Ms. Bibas and her kids, although it had not confirmed their deaths.
For a lot of Israelis, the story of the Bibas household has change into a logo of the brutality of the Hamas-led assault of Oct. 7, 2023.
Shiri Bibas was corralled by gunmen and brought to Gaza along with her two red-haired kids, Ariel, 4, and a child, Kfir, who was simply shy of 9 months outdated. Yarden Bibas, Shiri’s husband and the youngsters’s father, was additionally kidnapped, bleeding closely after an assailant struck his head with a hammer, family stated. Mr. Bibas was launched from captivity earlier in February.
In an announcement, the Bibas household stated it had not obtained official affirmation concerning the destiny of Shiri and her kids.
In trade for the 4 our bodies, Israel will launch girls and minors detained by Israel in Gaza after the Oct. 7 assault, in accordance with an Israeli and a Hamas official, who spoke on the situation of anonymity to debate the delicate association.
Mr. al-Hayya and the Israeli prime minister’s workplace additionally stated the variety of dwelling hostages scheduled to be launched on Saturday can be elevated to 6 from three.
Mr. al-Hayya stated Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, Israeli residents who’ve been held in Gaza for roughly a decade, could be among the many six. It was not instantly clear why Hamas had determined to extend the variety of dwelling hostages to be launched. The unique settlement had known as for Hamas to launch three hostages on Saturday in trade for Palestinian prisoners.
However one Hamas official, Mahmoud Mardawi, stated in a textual content message that Hamas had obtained assurances from mediators that Israel would enable for the entry of short-term housing items and heavy equipment into Gaza earlier than Saturday. Israeli officers didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark about Mr. Mardawi’s message.
On Tuesday, Israel delivered two bulldozers to Gaza after Mr. al-Hayya’s speech, stated Salama Maroof, the top of the Hamas-run authorities media workplace. A minimum of 60,000 prefabricated housing items ought to be delivered to Gaza in the course of the first section of the deal, along with gear for rubble clearance, in accordance with a replica of the settlement’s textual content seen by The New York Occasions.
Hamas has stated that the houses would supply shelter for Palestinians whose houses have been destroyed and that the equipment will assist make it potential to retrieve our bodies from the rubble.
A hostage launch would point out that implementation of the preliminary, six-week cease-fire settlement between Israel and Hamas is progressing, regardless of issues about its fragility.
Negotiations over the second section of the deal, which requires a everlasting finish to the combating, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and the discharge of extra hostages and prisoners, seem much less stable. The 2 sides have been to begin talks over particulars on the subsequent section two weeks in the past, however Qatar, a key mediating nation, stated the talks had but to start.
Hamas has accused Israel of delaying the beginning of the section two discussions, whereas Israel nonetheless hasn’t introduced publicly when it could ship officers to take part in them.
As a part of the primary section of the deal, Hamas is meant to launch 33 Israeli hostages, together with eight who the Israeli authorities consider are useless. As of Tuesday, Hamas had freed 19 Israelis.
Shaban al-Sayed, whose son Hisham is among the hostages set for launch on Saturday, stated his household was awaiting his return with deep anxiousness over his situation.
Hisham crossed into Gaza in 2015, which his father stated was a consequence of psychological sickness. Hamas has held him ever since “as a bargaining chip,” stated Mr. al-Sayed, a member of Israel’s Arab Bedouin minority.
“We don’t know in what situation he’ll return,” he stated. “We’re ready for him — and after we see him, we’ll understand how a lot we’ve to have a good time.”
Aaron Boxerman contributed reporting to this text.
