The Palestinian armed group Hamas has announced that it will hand over the bodies of four hostages, including the two youngest people held by the group, on Thursday. The two young children, Kfir and Ariel Bibas, were aged nine months and four years when they were kidnapped by Hamas during the 7 October 2023 attack. Hamas claims that the three were killed in Israeli bombardment, although Israel has not confirmed this. The children's father, Yarden, was released by Hamas earlier this month. In addition to the release of the bodies, Hamas will also release six living hostages on Saturday, including Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, who have been held by Hamas since 2014 and 2015, respectively.

The release of the hostages is part of a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, which includes the release of Palestinian prisoners and other concessions. In exchange for the release of the hostages, Israel will free all women and those under the age of 19 arrested since last October and will allow some rubble-clearing equipment into Gaza through the border with Egypt. The agreement also includes the release of four additional slain hostages next week. The Hostage and Missing Families Forum has welcomed the news of the release of the six living hostages, but has expressed devastation at the news that the remains of four of their loved ones will be returned this Thursday.

The families of the hostages have been notified, and Israel is expected to release Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the Israelis. The release of the hostages is seen as a significant development in the ceasefire agreement, which aims to bring an end to the conflict between Hamas and Israel. The agreement has been facilitated by Egyptian, Qatari, Israeli, and American officials, who have been involved in talks to secure the release of the hostages. The release of the hostages is expected to take place on Saturday, and will be seen as a major breakthrough in the efforts to bring an end to the conflict.

The ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel has been in place for several weeks, and has included the release of several hostages. The agreement has been facilitated by international efforts, including those of the United States, Egypt, and Qatar. The release of the hostages is seen as a significant development in the agreement, and is expected to pave the way for further negotiations between Hamas and Israel. The negotiations are expected to focus on the release of the remaining hostages, as well as the implementation of the ceasefire agreement. The implementation of the agreement will require the cooperation of both parties, and will be monitored by international observers.

The release of the hostages has been welcomed by the international community, which has been calling for an end to the conflict between Hamas and Israel. The United States, in particular, has been involved in efforts to secure the release of the hostages, and has welcomed the news of the release of the six living hostages. The release of the hostages is seen as a significant development in the efforts to bring an end to the conflict, and is expected to pave the way for further negotiations between Hamas and Israel. The international community will continue to monitor the situation, and will work to ensure that the ceasefire agreement is implemented and that the conflict is brought to an end.