In a dramatic turn of events, Hamas has released six Israeli hostages in Gaza, with another six living hostages expected to be released on Saturday. Among those released are two individuals who have been held in Gaza for approximately a decade. Additionally, four bodies are set to be returned to Israel in the coming week.
In exchange for the release of the hostages, Israel has provided mobile homes and construction equipment for the displaced population of the Gaza Strip. Furthermore, Israel is slated to release around 600 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails, including those serving life sentences for the murder of Israelis.
The most heart-wrenching part of this exchange was the return of the bodies of Ariel and Kfir Bibas, two young children who were reportedly murdered by Hamas fighters with their bare hands. The bodies were examined at the Abu Kabir medical center in Tel Aviv, where it was determined that the boys were brutally murdered in cold blood no later than November 2023. The fate of the two boys and their mother, Shiri, had been a lingering mystery during the conflict in Gaza.
Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, spokesperson for the Israeli military, refuted Hamas’s claims that the boys were killed in an airstrike, stating that they were actually killed by Hamas fighters. Hagari added that the assailants attempted to cover up their actions by committing horrific acts. This assessment was based on forensic findings from the identification process and supporting intelligence.
As the region continues to grapple with the aftermath of the conflict, the release of hostages and the return of bodies serve as a small glimmer of hope for the families involved.
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Video “LIVE: Hamas release six Israeli hostages in Gaza” was uploaded on 02/22/2025 to Youtube Channel The Times and The Sunday Times