Hamas has announced it will return the bodies of Shiri Bibas and her two sons, Kfir and Ariel, to Israel. The family was abducted by Hamas during the attack on October 7, 2023. Israeli authorities struggled to confirm their deaths until now. The announcement comes as Hamas prepares to release six hostages on Saturday, a move signaling the first phase of the ceasefire agreement's progression. However, the second phase, set to begin on March 1, has encountered political hurdles and regional opposition.
Earlier this month, Yarden Bibas was informed by Hamas that his family had perished, yet Israeli officials were unable to verify this until the recent declaration by Hamas. The situation adds complexity to ongoing negotiations and highlights the human toll of the conflict. Hamas has attributed the deaths of the young boys and their mother to Israeli bombing.
The Israeli prime minister's office confirmed the release of six hostages on Saturday, slightly accelerating the initial phase of the ceasefire. This phase involves the exchange of hostages for Palestinian detainees.
"In the security cabinet meeting last night, we decided to open negotiations on the second phase. It will happen this week," stated Gideon Sa’ar, reflecting Israel's cautious approach towards the next steps.
The second phase of the ceasefire agreement involves releasing all remaining hostages in exchange for Palestinian detainees, alongside the withdrawal of Israeli Defense Forces from Gaza, including through the Rafah crossing into Egypt. However, this phase has faced staunch opposition within Netanyahu's right-wing coalition, threatening his government's stability.
Moreover, Egypt and Jordan have rejected proposals to deport Palestinians from Gaza, complicating diplomatic efforts. Israel remains firm that Hamas should not play any future role in Gaza's governance. This stance is critical as regional dynamics shift ahead of an Arab League summit on Gaza scheduled for March 4 in Cairo.
Hamas's announcement about returning the bodies coincides with a critical juncture in diplomatic negotiations. Donald Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, emphasized the complexities involved in progressing to the second phase.
"Phase two is a little more complicated than phase one. But phase two is absolutely going to begin," Witkoff asserted, indicating international pressure to advance the ceasefire process.
As tensions simmer over ceasefire terms and governance issues, Israel's internal politics add another layer of complexity. The right-wing faction within Netanyahu's coalition has voiced strong opposition to initiating phase two, raising concerns about potential political fallout.
The anticipated Arab League summit in Cairo aims to address these issues and potentially facilitate broader regional cooperation. However, with strong opposition from key players like Egypt and Jordan on certain proposals, achieving consensus remains challenging.