HAMAS, Lebanon – Israel and Hamas are set to begin indirect negotiations on the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, officials said Tuesday, as the Palestinian militant group announced plans to release more hostages—including the bodies of two children—this week.
The announcement comes amid a fragile truce that has so far led to the return of 19 Israeli hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
The second stage of the deal, which aims to secure the release of the remaining captives, is expected to be far more complex, as it touches on post-war governance in Gaza.
Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas leader in Gaza, said the bodies of four Israeli hostages, including those of the Bibas family, would be returned on Thursday, followed by the release of six living hostages on Saturday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed the agreement but did not disclose the names of those to be freed.
An Israeli official said the deceased hostages would be identified in Israel before their names were made public.
The Bibas family has been at the center of national attention in Israel.
Kfir Bibas, who was less than a year old when abducted, and his four-year-old brother Ariel were among the youngest hostages taken in Hamas’ October 7 attack.
Their father, Yarden Bibas, was released earlier this month, but their mother, Shiri, remains unaccounted for.
Hamas has previously claimed she and the children were killed in Israeli airstrikes, a claim Israel has not confirmed.
Negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire were originally set to begin on February 4 but faced delays.
Qatar, which has been mediating alongside Egypt and the U.S., confirmed that formal talks had yet to start but would begin this week.
“It will happen this week,” Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said in a press conference in Jerusalem.
The first phase of the ceasefire, which began on January 19, established a 42-day truce.
While it has remained intact despite violations and accusations from both sides, the next stage is expected to be far more contentious.
The primary sticking point remains the future administration of Gaza.
Israel has insisted it will not accept any role for Hamas, while Hamas maintains its governance of the enclave.
“We will not accept the continued presence of Hamas or any other terrorist organization in Gaza,” Saar said.
However, he indicated that if negotiations were constructive, Israel would consider extending the ceasefire.
“If we see a constructive dialogue with the possibility of reaching an agreement, we will make this time-frame work longer,” he said.
As talks continue, the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire.
Israel’s military offensive, launched in response to Hamas’ October 7 attack—which killed about 1,200 people in Israel, according to Israeli authorities—has devastated the enclave.
More than 48,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to Palestinian health officials, and hundreds of thousands have been displaced.
In a significant policy shift, Israel will now allow mobile homes to enter Gaza to provide shelter for those left homeless by the war.
Hamas had accused Israel of stalling aid deliveries and had threatened to delay hostage releases unless humanitarian relief, including shelter, was allowed in.
Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced plans to create a new unit to facilitate the voluntary relocation of Gazans to third countries.
The move has drawn criticism from Palestinian groups and several international governments, who view it as an attempt to encourage mass displacement.
The ceasefire negotiations remain delicate, with both sides under pressure—Hamas to release hostages and Israel to show progress in bringing its citizens home.
But as talks inch forward, the future of Gaza and the region remains deeply uncertain.
