Hamas will release the six hostages Saturday as part of the phase one ceasefire agreement and Israel will free more than 600 Palestinian prisoners.

Hamas on Thursday handed over the bodies of four Israeli hostages held in Gaza — the first time the group has released deceased captives since October 7, 2023.

The Israeli Defense Forces say Hamas did not return the remains of Shiri Bibas, the mother of the two youngest hostages. the IDF says her children were murdered by Hamas not killed by an airstrike as previously thought.

Hamas originally claimed in November 2023 the three members of the Bibas family had been killed in an Israeli air strike, without providing evidence. The BBC hasn't been able to independently verify this. Israel says it will not confirm their deaths before forensic testing.