Ceasefire: Identification of Deceased Israeli Hostages May Be Delayed

Wed 19th Feb, 2025
The identification process for the deceased hostages, set to be handed over by the terrorist organization Hamas on Thursday, may take longer than anticipated, according to Israeli reports. The duration of this process will depend on the condition of the bodies, as noted by several media outlets referencing Health Minister Uriel Busso. He expressed that Israel is also keen to determine the causes of death. Hamas has announced its intention to deliver four deceased hostages to Israel. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the agreement. In exchange, Israel is reportedly set to release all women and minors detained since the onset of the Gaza conflict in October 2023, who were not involved in armed resistance against Israel. Among the four deceased hostages are the two youngest, Kfir and Ariel Bibas, along with their mother, Shiri, who all hold German citizenship, according to unconfirmed reports. The Bibas family expressed that the announcement from Hamas has caused them considerable distress, as they have yet to receive any official confirmation regarding the deaths of the mother and her children. They emphasized that their struggle will continue until they receive clear confirmation. For many Israelis, the Bibas family symbolizes the suffering of hostages in Gaza following the Hamas terror attack in October 2023. A video had captured the moment Shiri Bibas was abducted while holding her children, whereas her husband, Jarden Bibas, was taken separately and was released alive. The family was reported to have been killed during an Israeli airstrike, though this has not been confirmed by Israel. Additionally, four more deceased individuals are expected to be handed over by Hamas during the sixth week of the ceasefire. Furthermore, six additional hostages are scheduled to be released on Saturday as part of the agreement between Israel and the Islamist group. These individuals represent the last remaining hostages to be freed in the first phase of the ceasefire agreement. Among them, two have been in captivity for several years, while the other four were abducted on October 7, 2023. The negotiations for the second, more complex phase of the ceasefire are still ongoing, which will include discussions regarding further hostage releases. Approximately 60 individuals are still held by terrorist groups in the Gaza Strip, with estimates from the Israeli military suggesting that at least 28 of them are already deceased.

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