The Palestinian militant group is expected to return the bodies of four hostages on Thursday, including two of the youngest to be abducted.
According to Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya, the bodies to be released include those of Shiri Bibas and her young children, Kfir and Ariel.
They were aged nine months and four years when they were taken during the October 7, 2023 terror attack on Israel.
Hamas also plans on releasing the body of Oded Lifshitz, who was 83 when he was abducted.
Hamas claims that three members of the Bibas family were killed in Israeli attacks during the early months of the war in , but Israel has not confirmed their deaths.
“In the past few hours, we have been in turmoil,” surviving members of the Bibas family said in a statement released Tuesday by a group representing the relatives of hostages.
“Until we receive definitive confirmation, our journey is not over.”
The children’s father, Yarden, was released by Hamas earlier this month.
Hamas had set up a stage in the Bani Suheila area of southern Gaza’s Khan Younis ahead of the handing over of the dead hostages.
The Times of Israel reported that most Israeli media outlets had made a decision not to air images of proceedings out of respect for the dead.
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