Hamas announced it will release the bodies of four Israeli hostages, including the Bibas children, Kfir and Ariel, on Thursday, and six living hostages on Saturday, instead of the expected three.

The Israeli government confirmed an agreement had been reached in Cairo, also noting four additional slain hostages would be handed over next week.

Israel is expected to release Palestinian prisoners in exchange.

The announcement suggests the Bibas children, aged 9 months and 4 years when kidnapped in October 2023, are dead, though Israel has not yet confirmed this, CNN has reported.

Talks involving Egyptian, Qatari, Israeli, and American officials facilitated the release agreement.

Written by B.C. Begley