Hamas set to hand over bodies of Israeli hostages - including those of two children

The bodies of an Israeli mother and her two children are among four set to be handed over by Hamas on Thursday.

Shiri Bibas and her two children - four-year-old Ariel and nine-month-old Kfir - were kidnapped separately from her husband Yarden Bibas during the October 2023 terror attack.

Mr Bibas was released on 1 February as part of the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel.

Hamas leader Khalil al Hayya said on Tuesday that the family would be among four bodies to be handed over.

It also plans to release the body of peace activist Oded Lifshitz, who was 83 when he was abducted.

Hamas has claimed they were all killed in Israeli airstrikes near the start of the war.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it would be "a very difficult day for the state of Israel. An upsetting day, a day of grief."

The family has become a powerful symbol of the 251 Israelis kidnapped on 7 October - not least because Kfir was the youngest taken.

The bodies will be handed to the Red Cross and later undergo DNA tests to verify their identity.

Israel previously said it was extremely concerned about the condition of Shiri, Ariel and Kfir - but has never confirmed their deaths.

They were abducted at Kibbutz Nir Oz, one of a number of communities overrun by Hamas terrorists on the day of the surprise attack.

The family said this week their "journey is not over" until they receive confirmation of what happened to Shiri and the boys.

Meanwhile six living hostages, the final due to be freed under the first phase of the Gaza truce deal, will also be released on Saturday, according to Hamas.