Israel braced on Thursday for the return of the bodies of infant Kfir Bibas and his four-year-old brother Ariel, the two youngest captives taken by Hamas in their Oct. 7, 2023 attack and among the most potent symbols of the trauma inflicted that day.

In contrast to the joyful scenes of living hostages returning home over the past few weeks, the transfer of bodies on Thursday, potentially including those of two children, will be somber.

An Israeli official says the bodies of the youngest and one of the oldest captives seized by Hamas during the attack that ignited the war in Gaza are expected to be returned on Thursday

Egypt is developing a plan to rebuild Gaza without forcing Palestinians out of the strip in a counter to President Donald Trump’s proposal to depopulate the territory so the U.S. can take it over.

Palestinians in Gaza’s urban refugee camp of Jabaliya have rejected plans by U.S. President Donald Trump and Israel to depopulate the coastal enclave, despite massive destruction following a 15-month war between Israel and Hamas.