19 hours ago
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Israel is preparing to receive six more hostages from Hamas on Saturday in the latest exchange under the ongoing ceasefire agreement, while the body of Shiri Bibas, previously misidentified, has been confirmed and returned to her family.
The six hostages include Eliya Cohen, 27, Tal Shoham, 40, Omer Shem Tov, 22, and Omer Wenkert, 23, who were abducted during the October 7 attack. Also set for release are Hisham Al-Sayed, 36, and Avera Mengistu, 39, who were separately captured in Gaza nearly a decade ago.
The latest release comes as part of an agreement under which Israel is expected to free 602 Palestinian prisoners. Despite tensions over the initial misidentification of Bibas’ remains, Hamas formally confirmed the names of Saturday’s hostages, signalling that the handover would proceed as planned.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to make Hamas “pay the full price” for failing to return Bibas’ body as initially agreed but refrained from withdrawing from the truce. The ceasefire, in place since January 19, has paused hostilities but has not resolved deep disagreements over Gaza’s future.
Meanwhile, both sides are expected to begin discussions on a second phase of negotiations, aimed at securing the release of the remaining 60 hostages and a potential withdrawal of Israeli troops. However, hopes for a lasting resolution remain uncertain amid regional tensions and contentious proposals regarding Gaza’s governance.
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