Hamas is set to release six more Israeli hostages from Gaza on Saturday, marking another step in the ongoing ceasefire agreement between the group and Israel. However, the fragile truce is overshadowed by mounting tensions following a dispute over the misidentification of a body handed over by Hamas.
Hostage exchange and rising tensions
The latest hostage release will see six Israeli men returned in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. However, the deal has been shaken by a mistaken identity crisis surrounding one of the bodies handed over to Israel.
On Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed retaliation over what he described as a cruel and malicious breach of the agreement. The dispute erupted after Shiri Bibas’ family confirmed that a body initially believed to be hers was actually that of an unidentified Palestinian woman.
Israeli forensic teams later confirmed that the body handed over by Hamas overnight was indeed that of Shiri Bibas, an Israeli mother of two. Three other bodies were confirmed to be those of her two young sons and 83-year-old Oded Lifshitz, all of whom were taken hostage during Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel.
Israel has accused Hamas of executing the three hostages, while Hamas insists they were killed in Israeli airstrikes.
Hamas to proceed with hostage release
Despite the controversy, Hamas’ military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, has stated that it will proceed with the release of six more Israeli hostages on Saturday. The hostages include:
- Eliya Cohen, 27
- Omer Shem Tov, 22
- Omer Wenkert, 23
These three were kidnapped from a music festival during the October 7 attack.
- Tal Shoham, 40, abducted from Kibbutz Be’eri
- Avera Mengistu, 39, and Hisham Al-Sayed, 36, both of whom crossed into Gaza voluntarily years ago and have been held captive since.
Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners to be freed
In return, Israel is set to release over 600 Palestinian prisoners, including:
- 50 prisoners serving life sentences
- 60 prisoners with long-term sentences
- 47 prisoners previously freed in earlier hostage exchanges
- 445 prisoners from Gaza arrested since the war began
Hamas has also announced plans to release four more bodies next week, marking the completion of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement. If carried out, Hamas would still be holding around 60 hostages, half of whom are believed to be alive.
Ceasefire agreement under threat
The ceasefire, which halted over 15 months of war, is now at a critical juncture. The second phase of negotiations is expected to be even more difficult, as Hamas demands:
- A permanent ceasefire
- A full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza
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Netanyahu, with support from former U.S. President Donald Trump, has rejected these conditions, stating that Israel remains committed to:
- Destroying Hamas’ military capabilities
- Returning all hostages
Trump has also introduced a controversial proposal to relocate 2 million Palestinians from Gaza, allowing the U.S. to rebuild and take control of the territory. While Netanyahu has welcomed the idea, it has been universally rejected by Palestinians, Egypt, Jordan, and other Arab nations.
“I think that’s the plan that really works,” Trump said in a Fox News interview on Friday. “But I’m not forcing it. I’m just going to sit back and recommend it.”
Mass devastation in Gaza
Since Israel launched its military offensive in response to the October 7 attack, Gaza has suffered immense destruction.
- Over 48,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
- Israel claims to have killed more than 17,000 Hamas fighters, but has not provided independent verification.
- Entire neighbourhoods have been levelled, with 90% of Gaza’s population displaced at the height of the war.
- Many Palestinians returning to their homes have found nothing left to rebuild.
As the hostage exchange continues, the fate of the ceasefire remains uncertain. With both sides deeply entrenched in conflicting demands, negotiations for a long-term resolution are likely to be fraught with challenges.
