Hamas says it will free all remaining hostages in single swap in phase two of ceasefire deal

“We have informed the mediators that Hamas is ready to release all hostages in one batch during the second phase of the agreement, rather than in stages, as in the current first phase,” said Taher al-Nunu, a spokesperson for the group.

It comes as Hamas confirmed that it would release the six remaining living hostages slated for return in phase one on Saturday, including Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, both of whom have been held captive for more than a decade.

The others include Tal Shoham, Omer Shem-Tov, Omer Wenkert, and Eliya Cohen, who were all kidnapped on October 7.

The terror group also announced on Tuesday that it would return the bodies of four dead hostages on Thursday – a group which it claims will include the Bibas children. 

The Bibas family said it was in “turmoil” following the announcement.

It has been reported that body of the children’s mother, Shiri, will also be returned. Yarden Bibas, the father of the family, was released Saturday 1 February.