Gaza latest: Bodies of four Israeli hostages released by Hamas - as group uses 'opportunity for propaganda'

IDF receives bodies of four Israeli hostages - what will happen next?

The Israel Defence Forces has received the bodies of the four Israeli hostages in Gaza.

According to reports, the IDF will hold a military ceremony in their memory, which will be attended by soldiers and a military rabbi.

From there, the remains will be transported to a forensic institute in Abu Kabir under a police escort.

The bodies will undergo an identification process, which could take up to 48 hours depending on their condition.

No officials will be allowed in the medical centre, which will be working in full capacity to make the process as quick as possible, with families to be the first to get results.

Negotiations on next phase of ceasefire this week, Israeli minister says

Israel and Hamas will begin indirect negotiations on a second stage of the ceasefire deal this week, officials have said.

Talks were supposed to begin on 4 February, but mediators said the talks never began.

"It will happen this week," Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar told a news conference in Jerusalem yesterday. 

What is the second phase?

When agreed, it's expected to include the release of all remaining hostages, including male Israeli soldiers, a permanent ceasefire and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces.

Israel says it will not agree to a complete withdrawal until Hamas's military and political capabilities are eliminated, ensuring it can no longer rule, while Hamas refuses to hand over the last Israeli hostages until Israel ends the war and removes all its troops.

Israeli flags fly in Hostages Square

As Hamas hands over the bodies of four Israeli hostages, dozens of Israeli flags have been set up in Hostages Square in Tel Aviv.

People can also be seen embracing in the pictures below.

All four bodies handed over

The Red Cross has received all four coffins and its convoy is making its way back across the border to Israel.

There, the bodies will be sent to a forensic institute for formal identification. 

Sombre moment for Israelis - as Hamas uses opportunity for propaganda

The return of the bodies of four Israeli hostages is a "sombre moment" for everybody in Israel and Jews across the world, our international correspondent Diana Magnay says.

She says the two young boys, Ariel and Kfir, "really became a symbol of the tremendous suffering 7 October caused".

"Now, to have them returned back in this way is tragic," she adds.

Referring to the scenes we're witnessing as the coffins are being transferred to the Red Cross, Magnay says Hamas has chosen to use this "as a propaganda opportunity".

"They have missiles on the stage where the four coffins were, saying they were killed by US bombs," she explains.

As we mentioned in our 7.34am post, Hamas has deliberately placed the coffins in front of a screen which blames Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the deaths of the hostages. 

In a statement, Hamas said: "We would have preferred your sons to return to you alive, but your army and government leaders chose to kill them instead of bringing them back."

Magnay says Hamas's main message is "this was caused by you, you should take responsibility for it".

But she says 7 October was caused by Hamas, and has brought "untold suffering to both Israel and Palestinians".

Coffins being transferred to Red Cross

Members of Hamas have picked up and carried the first coffin across to the Red Cross vans. 

The vans are surrounded by crowds, with armed Hamas militants keeping people back. 

The Red Cross have put up some white screens to block the view, and drape the coffin in a white blanket before putting it in the back of the van - which drives away. 

The other three coffins remain on the stage. 

Coffins seen for first time

We're keeping a close eye on developments in Khan Younis, where we've just seen the four coffins for the first time. 

They are pictured in front of a large board criticising Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu - who the group claims is ultimately responsible for the deaths of the hostages by continuing the war in Gaza.

The four hostages were all killed in captivity in Gaza having been abducted on 7 October by Hamas.

Shortly afterward, a member of the Red Cross went on stage and began signing documents with a Hamas militant. 

What we're expecting to happen today

As we've just seen, Red Cross vehicles have arrived in Khan Younis to carry the bodies of four hostages, including a mother and her two children, out of Gaza and home into Israel.

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 7 October Hamas attacks.

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

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

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

The militant group 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.

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

Handover of bodies begins

We're seeing Red Cross vehicles arriving in Khan Younis as Hamas prepares to hand over the bodies of four Israeli hostages.

It has said it will be releasing the bodies of Shiri Bibas and her two children - four-year-old Ariel and nine-month-old Kfir.

The body of 84-year-old Oded Lifshitz will also be released.

Hamas is due to hand over the bodies of four Israeli hostages today - including a mother and her two children from the Bibas family.

Yarden Bibas was freed on 1 February, with the bodies of his wife Shiri and two children - four-year-old Ariel and nine-month-old Kfir - due to be released.

The group also plans to release the body of peace activist Oded Lifshitz, who was 83 when he was abducted during the 7 October attacks.

Hamas has also said six living hostages, the final due to be released under the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire, will be released on Saturday.

Biden 'relieved' after release of American-Israeli hostage

Former US president Joe Biden has said he and his wife, Jill, are "relieved" American-Israeli hostage Sagui Dekel Chen has been reunited with his family. 

In the statement on X, Biden continued to say he is "proud" that the "deal we negotiated has held, paving the way for the release of hostages". 

Argentinian president acknowledges hostage release

The president of Argentina has acknowledged the release of Argentinian-Israeli Iair Horn, who was released by Hamas today. 

The office of Javier Milei said in a statement that the 46-year-old's release came within the "framework of a ceasefire between the state of Israel and Hamas promoted by the President of the United States, Donald Trump".

It added: "The Argentine Republic maintains its demand for the release of the rest of the hostages who remain in captivity to this day, among them Iair's brother, Etain Horn, and hopes for a prompt resolution to the conflict."

Israeli detention centres 'more difficult than you can imagine'

One of the Palestinian prisoners released by Israel earlier today described the conditions in Israeli detention centres as "more difficult than you can imagine". 

Speaking to The Associated Press, Ibrahim Sarahneh claimed there was "beating, insults and cursing" during his incarceration.

The claim comes after the Palestinian Red Crescent emergency service said four released prisoners were taken to the hospital for urgent care. 

It said the freed prisoners were taken to hospital due to their "critical health condition".

The Israeli Prison Service said it ensures "all basic rights" of prisoners and detains them according to law.

Protesters gather in Tel Aviv

Thousands of people have gathered in Tel Aviv calling for the release of the remaining hostages being held in Gaza. 

Pictures emerging from the scene show crowds gathered in front of what it believed to be the headquarters of the Israel Defence Forces.

One of the signs held by protesters reads "don't kill the deal" referring to the fragile ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.

The deal nearly fell apart at the beginning of the week after the militant group threatened to delay the release of hostages, accusing Israel of violating terms of the truce.

After intense efforts by Egyptian and Qatari mediators to keep the agreement on track, Hamas said it would go ahead with the planned release of hostages.

US secretary of state arrives in Israel

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has arrived in Tel Aviv for his first visit to the Middle East. 

He is expected to meet Benjamin Netanyahu tomorrow.

Rubio's visit comes after a widely condemned proposal by Donald Trump to displace Palestinians in Gaza. 

Trump first floated the suggestion that Egypt and Jordan should take in Palestinians from Gaza on 25 January, a proposal they strongly opposed.

From Israel, Rubio will travel to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

US national security adviser praises release of American-Israeli hostage

Mike Waltz, the US national security adviser, has praised the release of American-Israeli Sagui Dekel Chen.

The 36-year-old was one of three hostages released today by Hamas.

Commenting on a video of Chen being reunited with his wife and parents, Waltz said: "Sagui has been through nearly 500 days of horror.

"Hamas cannot be allowed to survive."

Families 'constantly stressed' over hostages that remain in Gaza

The leader of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum in the UK has said they are "really fighting" for the release of the remaining hostages in Gaza. 

Speaking to Sky's Barbara Serra, Nivi Feldman, said 14 Israeli hostages are still due to be released as part of phase one of the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. 

She said the families of those still in Gaza are "constantly stressed" not knowing if their relatives will be released or not in the coming weeks.

"Families are not eating or sleeping and are constantly stressed, not knowing if their children, fathers and brothers will come back or not," Fledman said.

"Then the thought that the whole deal is out the window and no one else will ever come out of Gaza, it is [causing] a lot of anxiety.

"Seeing the video today, and the hostages seeing their families for the first time, you can't stop crying. 

"It is a miracle they are out, and I really hope we will have 73 more of them."

Nineteen Israeli and five Thai hostages have been released so far during phase one of the current ceasefire deal.

Around half of the remaining 73 hostages have been declared dead in absentia by Israeli authorities.

Netanyahu yet to decide on 'Israel's next steps'

Benjamin Netanyahu has said he "greatly appreciates" support from Donald Trump, adding his "firm stance" helped to secure today's release of three Israeli hostages.

Responding to Trump's message earlier today - which said the US would "back" Israel in "any decision they make" regarding the release of all the remaining hostages - the Israeli prime minister said he values the president's "full support". 

"Prime Minister Netanyahu greatly appreciates president Trump's leadership and the ongoing coordination with the United States," a statement from Netanyahu's office said.

"The combination of the IDF's reinforcement around the Gaza Strip and President Trump's firm stance led to the release of three of our hostages today—despite Hamas's previous refusal to free them."

Netanyahu said he will convene his government's security cabinet "as soon as possible" to decide on "Israel's next steps".

For context: Trump had given Hamas a deadline of noon (US time) to release all remaining Israeli hostages, saying "all hell would break loose" if that did not happen.

Israel however never imposed such a deadline, which is also not part of the ceasefire deal.

As we reported earlier, it was believed Netanyahu had spoken with ministers, the heads of the negotiating team and senior defence officials, over the phone to discuss the release of remaining hostages.

'Emotional meeting' of Israeli hostage and his grandmother

Footage of the "emotional meeting" of Israeli hostage Alexander (Sasha) Troufanov reuniting with his grandmother has been released by the office of Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Russian-Israeli was taken hostage along with his family in kibbutz Nir Oz.

His grandmother Irena Tati was released during the brief ceasefire in November 2023, along with Troufanov's mother and girlfriend.

He was filmed hugging and walking arm in arm with his grandmother after being reunited at the Sheba Medical Centre earlier today.

'Dad is on the way': Israeli hostage to be reunited with his children

Another Israeli hostage who was freed by Hamas earlier today has released a message.

Pictured by the IDF on a helicopter, American-Israeli Sagui Dekel Chen held up a sign of a hand drawn map, a heart and the number 73.

This appears to be a reference to the number of Israeli hostages still being held in Gaza. 

In another note, the father of three wrote: "Bari, Gali, Shahar - thank you for looking after me, Dad is on the way."

Families of remaining hostages plea for Trump's help

The families of the remaining Israeli hostages have just held a news conference in Tel Aviv. 

They pleaded with Benjamin Netanyahu to "bring home the hostages" claiming that those still in Gaza would "not survive much longer". 

Speaking directly to the Israeli prime minister, they said they would not allow the government to "torpedo" phase two of the ceasefire agreement - which is expected to include the release of all remaining hostages and a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops.

The families went on to ask Donald Trump to put pressure on "all parties involved in the region" to ensure all remaining hostages are released before anything else.

"They cannot wait for big political plans to come to fruition, they simply won't survive," the spokesperson said.

"No one gets left behind, after that we can and will deal with everything else."

-SKY NEWS