Israel had planned to release 602 Palestinian prisoners, including 60 serving long sentences, 50 serving life terms, and 47 re-arrested after their 2011 release in exchange for captive IDF soldier Gilad Shalit. Videos have shown masked Hamas operatives parading captives in front of gathered crowds, forcing them to wave as part of what Israel calls a propaganda stunt. Israel confirmed on Saturday that hostage Shiri Bibas, who had been held captive by Hamas since October 7, 2023, was murdered along with her two young sons, Ariel, 4, and Kfir, 9 months, in November 2023. The announcement came after Hamas initially handed over the body of a Palestinian woman instead of Bibas. Israeli officials later confirmed that the Bibas family was brutally murdered over a year ago and their deaths marked the loss of three generations of the family. Meanwhile, in the latest hostage-prisoner exchange, six Israeli hostages were released at different times on Saturday. Hamas released videos showing the captives emerging from vehicles in Rafah, appearing frail and malnourished. The release of terrorists that was planned for yesterday has been delayed until the release of the next hostages has been assured, and without the humiliating ceremonies,\” Netanyahu’s office stated.
