Understandings reached this week between Israel and the negotiators in Cairo have enabled the return on Saturday of six living hostages from the first stage of the agreement with Hamas.
The bodies of four hostages who were killed in captivity are to be returned on Thursday, including those of Shiri Bibas (age 33) and her two young children, 4-year-old Ariel and 9-month-old baby Kfir. Shiri’s husband and the father of the children, Yarden Bibas, was freed from captivity on February 1.
In accordance with the agreement, four additional deceased hostages are to be returned to Israel next week as well.
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said Tuesday in a statement designed to make headlines that the terrorist organization was ready to free all the remaining hostages at once in the second stage of the agreement. The catch: Hamas demands a permanent ceasefire and full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza — a nonstarter for Israel.
“The occupation’s condition of removing Hamas from the Strip is a ridiculous psychological war, and the exit of the resistance or disarmament from Gaza is unacceptable,” Qassem said.
The leader of the terrorist organization’s negotiating team, Dr. Khalil Al-Hayya, claimed in a speech Tuesday that “Hamas and the resistance have demonstrated their seriousness and responsibility in implementing the agreement” while the Israeli government responds with “procrastination and attempts to evade its implementation, particularly concerning the humanitarian aspects.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu moved swiftly to debunk the claims that it was Hamas who advanced the talks.
““The claim that progress to the next release stage was brought about by Hamas is a new height of absurdity, echoing Hamas propaganda,” the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said Wednesday in a statement.
“Two weeks ago, the prime minister had already defined the objective of releasing the remaining living hostages of the first phase in a single stage instead of two. These understandings were achieved as a result of the firm stance of the prime minister and his directive to augment the IDF forces around and inside the Gaza Strip, as well as the ultimatum by US President [Donald] Trump,” the PMO said.
“It’s worth recalling that Hamas had declared its refusal to release our hostages, thereby violating the framework – and it was only Israel’s determined position that caused Hamas to back down,” the statement added.
Hamas claims it is working “tirelessly, day and night, in all directions and with the mediators” to “ensure that Israel abides by the first phase of the agreement.”
The terrorist organization is demanding the entry of relief and shelter materials, heavy equipment, fuel, alternative electricity sources, freedom of travel through the crossing in both directions, and access to fishing at sea, Al-Hayya said.
No mention was made of the announcement by Hamas more than a week ago, warning that it would violate the deal and decline to release any more hostages.
Hundreds of Terrorists to be Released
Thus far, 1,135 terrorists have been released from Israeli prisons in exchange for hostages freed during the six rounds of hostage releases up to this point.
Approximately 800 terrorists incarcerated in Israeli prisons are to be released in exchange for the hostages, according to Arab media.
The terrorists to be released include: 445 Gaza detainees imprisoned since Oct.7, 2023; 51 terrorists serving life sentences; 59 terrorists serving lengthy sentences; 47 terrorists who were rearrested after returning to their bloodthirsty activities after being released in exchange for the freedom of then-IDF soldier Gilad Shalit; and 200 women and teenage terrorists arrested during the war.
The deal will include the release of the longest-held terrorists from Israeli prisons: Nael Barghouti, incarcerated for 44 years; Ala’a Al Bazaian, incarcerated for 42 years; and Samer Al Mahroom, incarcerated for 38 years.
Several senior Palestinian Authority-based Hamas commanders are to be counted among those being released, including Abdel Nasser Issa, Othman Bilal and Ammar Al-Zaben, along with others.
