Gaza ceasefire latest: Hamas admits possible error in hostage body 'mix up' - as it names next six people to be released

Best outcome would be for Hamas to find Shiri Bibas's remains – and fast

There is no doubt further feverish behind-the-scenes mediation to try and ensure the ceasefire remains on track and Saturday’s exchange goes ahead. 

Hamas says as much, that it has "received the occupation’s allegations and claims from the mediators" and will examine them "with complete seriousness".

Israel is accusing Hamas of the utmost cynicism, by returning a body Israel claims Hamas knew was not that of Shiri Bibas. 

There is no reason in any of these past sixteen months of horror to give Hamas the benefit of the doubt. 

Nor is it however against the realms of possibility that Hamas never meant to return the wrong body, and that it was indeed a mix-up as they claim. 

They knew that Israel would be conducting forensic tests. It is not in their interests to derail the ceasefire. 

They don’t want war to resume in Gaza and they want their prisoners back.

Israel’s Defence Forces say that a combination of prior intelligence and forensic evidence gathered from the remains of the deceased proves that the Bibas children and Oded Lifshitz were murdered by their captors in November 2023. 

Hamas say it was an Israeli air strike which killed them. 

The IDF says they are lying and that they should not have to engage in "our word against their word" with a terrorist organisation. They add that they are respecting the wishes of the family by not expanding on their findings.

The best possible outcome in a terrible situation is that Hamas finds the remains of Shiri Bibas and fast. 

That may be harder if this was – as Hamas claims and Israel denies – an airstrike in which multiple people were killed.

Hostages released already have spoken of the terror they felt as Israel’s bombs exploded around the neighbourhoods in which they were being held. 

Unfortunately, the mediators have only the words of the respective parties to go on, and their success depends on navigating a path forward through this total absence of trust. 

As ever, this fragile ceasefire stumbles from one hurdle more painful than the last – with the families of the remaining hostages, with the civilians of Gaza, hoping and praying it holds. 

Israel 'committed to ceasefire deal'

A spokesperson for the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) has said it is "committed" to its ceasefire deal with Hamas despite a row over the remains of hostage Shiri Bibas.

Nadav Shoshani told Sky News that Israel still believed tomorrow's exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners would go ahead.

It comes after Hamas yesterday released four bodies said to be Israeli hostages, including Ms Bibas. However, Israel said today that forensic tests showed the remains belonged to someone else.

Six Israeli hostages and 602 Palestinian prisoners are reportedly due to be released tomorrow as part of the ceasefire deal.

Shoshani told our news presenter Anna Jones: "We expect to see Shiri Bibas home and we expect to see six more hostages home on Saturday.

"We are committed to this agreement but it's not a one-way river."

When asked about the disputed identity of the body, Shoshani added: "We understand that it is not an Israeli hostage, we understand it is a woman from Gaza. 

"It comes to show you the way Hamas treats their own people, just sending a body and not caring about who it is."

Hamas has said it is also committed to the peace deal and has promised to carry out a full investigation.

However, the group said Ms Bibas's remains may have become mixed up with those of other people, including Palestinians, who were killed during an Israeli airstrike (see 11.43am post).

More than 600 Palestinians 'due to be released by Israel'

Hamas has said it expects Israel to free 602 Palestinian prisoners and detainees in tomorrow's hostage-prisoner exchange.

It comes after the militant group confirmed the names of six hostages due to be returned to Israel this Saturday. 

The exchange makes up part of phase one of the Gaza ceasefire deal.

Over the course of six weeks, 33 hostages are to be freed under the deal, with at least three released each week.

In return, Israel will release 737 Palestinian prisoners over the course of the first phase.

Also to be released are 1,167 Palestinians detained in Gaza since the start of the war and held by Israel.

What has Hamas said about Shiri Bibas?

After the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) released a statement claiming the body of Shiri Bibas had not been handed over during yesterday's hostage exchange, Hamas responded by saying it would investigate the claims. 

The militant group said it was dealing with the allegations with "complete seriousness" and that it would announce the results "clearly". 

You can read the full statement below... 

The Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas is surprised by the uproar caused by the occupation following its claim that the body of the captive Shiri Bibas does not match the DNA test, and rejects the threats launched by Benjamin Netanyahu as part of his attempts to beautify his image before the Zionist community, and in the context of internal Israeli disputes.

The movement stresses the need to move forward in implementing the requirements of the [ceasefire] agreement at all levels.

We in the Hamas movement confirm our seriousness and full commitment to all our obligations, and we have proven this through our behaviour during the past days. We have no interest in not committing or keeping any bodies with us.

We have received the occupation's allegations and claims from the mediator brothers, and we will examine these claims with complete seriousness, and we will announce the results clearly.

We also point out the possibility of an error or overlap in the bodies, which may have resulted from the occupation targeting and bombing the place where the family was with other Palestinians.

We will inform the mediator brothers of the results of the examination and investigation on our part, and at the same time we call for the return of the body that the occupation claims belongs to a Palestinian woman who was killed during the Zionist bombing.

What has Israel said about Shiri Bibas?

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have disputed Hamas's claims about one of the four hostage bodies handed over yesterday. 

Hamas said the remains were of Israeli woman Shiri Bibas, along with her two children Ariel, 4, and Kfir, a 10-month-old.

The fourth body was purportedly of journalist and peace activist Oded Lifshitz, who was 83 when he was abducted.

The group said all four had been killed in Israeli airstrikes.

However, the IDF said the body of Shiri Bibas had not been handed over, with an "anonymous body" given in her place. 

-SKY NEWS