Hamas announced Tuesday that it will return the bodies of four Israeli hostages, including Kfir and Ariel Bibas, the youngest captives taken by the group.
Hamas announced that an Israeli-American citizen will be released this weekend. Keith Siegel, 65, is the first of the American citizens taken hostage on October 7, 2023, to be released.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has strongly criticized Hamas for the disorderly and dangerous conditions surrounding the recent release of Israeli hostages in Gaza.
On Wednesday, Hamas declared its plans to release eight hostages on Thursday, including three Israelis—two women and an 80-year-old man—and five Thai nationals.
As part of a fragile ceasefire, Hamas militants in Gaza released four Israeli female soldiers on Saturday. In exchange, Israel released 200 Palestinian prisoners, including individuals convicted of deadly attacks, marking a critical moment in the ongoing conflict.