In addition, the bodies of four hostages who died in Hamas captivity will be returned to Israel.

By Jewish Link Staff and combined sources

At press time, the Hamas terrorist group had agreed to double to six the number of hostages scheduled to be freed on Saturday, Feb. 22. This information was announced by the Prime Minister’s Office on Tuesday.

The Israelis set to be freed in this seventh release of the first phase of the ceasefire deal are Eliya Cohen, Omer Shem-Tov, Omer Wenkert and Tal Shoham, who were all kidnapped during the Oct. 7, 2023 massacre; and Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, who entered the Strip of their own volition a decade ago.

In addition, the bodies of four hostages murdered in Hamas captivity were set to be transferred from Gaza to Israel on Thursday, in line with the ceasefire deal, which stipulates that the remains will be returned on the 33rd day of the truce.

On Tuesday, Hamas revealed the names of the hostages whose bodies were set to be returned on Thursday: Shiri Silberman Bibas, 32; Ariel Bibas, 5; Kfir Bibas, 2; and Oded Lifshitz, 84.

Military ambulances will collect the four bodies at a Gaza meeting point, and will bring them for identification to the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute in Tel Aviv.

The Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement, “Pursuant to the agreement, four additional deceased hostages are due to be returned to Israel next week.”

In exchange for releasing the three additional living hostages, the Israeli government has reportedly signaled its willingness to allow the entry of hundreds of additional caravans for the reconstruction of the Strip.

The Israeli official told Ynet on Tuesday, “In the outline for the release of the hostages, Israel has committed to bringing caravans and mechanical engineering equipment into the Gaza Strip following strict inspection. As part of the negotiations, and subject to Hamas’s compliance with the deal, Israel will begin to allow this in a controlled and gradual manner.”

Below are the hostages reportedly set to be released on Saturday:

Eliya Cohen: Eliya was 26 when Hamas terrorists abducted him from the Nova Music Festival on Oct. 7, 2023. Eliya was enjoying the festival with his partner Ziv Abud, her nephew Amit and her nephew’s girlfriend Karin when Hamas invaded. Eliya and Ziv fled to a shelter which was later renamed the “death shelter,” as Hamas murdered most of the occupants. While Eliya was abducted, Ziv avoided detection by hiding under the dead bodies of partygoers for six hours. Trying to flee to a shelter, Amit and Karin were murdered.

Eliya is a resident of Tzur Hadassah near Jerusalem and has three younger sisters. Known for his zest for life, love of travel and fondness for people, he worked in marketing and real estate after a career as an event producer.

Omer Shem Tov: Omer was abducted from the Nova Music Festival on Oct. 7, 2023 by Hamas terrorists who drove him and his friends into Gaza. His family was able to track his live location through his phone when he called them, updating them on everything that was happening around him.

Omer was kidnapped alongside siblings Maya and Itay Regev, who were released during the ceasefire in November 2023.

Omer is a resident of Herzliya who dreams of becoming an actor. Known for his talent in mimicry and humor, he is also passionate about music and has his own DJ equipment. Friends and family describe him as funny, popular and always working to make others happy.

Omer Wenkert: Omer was 22 when Hamas abducted him from the Nova Music Festival on Oct. 7, 2023.

Omer suffers from an autoimmune disease and his family said on his website they fear his terrorist captors are not providing him the medication he needs.

Kim Damti, a friend attending the festival with Omer, was murdered while hiding in a rocket shelter.

Omer is a resident of Gedera and manages a well-known chef’s restaurant. He is known for his charismatic personality, love of dancing and passion for sports. Friends describe him as joyful with a contagious energy, and he was about to begin a restaurant management course.

Tal Shoham: Tal, a 39-year-old Israeli with Austrian and Italian citizenship, was abducted from Kibbutz Be’eri on Oct. 7, 2023 along with eight members of his extended family. This included his mother-in-law, Shoshan Haran, 67; his wife, Adi, 38; his children Nave, 8, and Yahel, 3; Adi’s aunt, Sharon Avigdori, 52; and Sharon’s daughter, Noam, 12; Avshalom Haran, 66; and Lilach Lea Kipnis, 60.

Shoham was visiting Be’eri for the holiday of Simchat Torah with his wife and children because Adi had grown up there.

Adi, Naveh and Yahel were released in the first hostage deal on November 25, 2023.

Tal is a resident of Ma’ale Tzvia who previously lived in Kibbutz Be’eri, where he managed a team at the printing house. Known for his dedication to peace, family and community, he volunteers with Magen David Adom, trains dogs and develops economic forecasting software.

Avera Mengistu: Avera has spent 11 years in Hamas captivity. Mengistu, an Israeli Jew of Ethiopian descent, was 28 years old when he crossed into northern Gaza through Zikim after having a fight with his mother on Sept. 7, 2014, according to Human Rights Watch. For nine years, his family had no indication of his condition, until Hamas released a video of him in January 2023.

Avera was born in Ethiopia and immigrated to Israel at the age of 5. He enjoys traveling, going to the beach and sharing family meals, particularly traditional Ethiopian cuisine. He shares an extremely close bond with his parents.

Hisham al-Sayed: Bedouin-Israeli Hisham al-Sayed was 27 when he wandered into southern Gaza on April 20, 2015 and was abducted by Hamas.

In June 2022, Hamas released a video showing him lying in bed wearing an oxygen mask, conscious and alert.

His father, Shaaban al-Sayed, told Walla on Tuesday: “We will be overjoyed to get him home, and we will be even happier when all the hostages return. … We have waited 10 years, so we will wait until Saturday. We will only be informed on Saturday which hospital he will be taken to, and we will wait for him there.”

Hisham is from Hura. He is the son of Shaaban and Manal and has one brother.

According to a statement from Hamas on Tuesday, these are the hostages whose bodies were set to be returned on Thursday:

Shiri Silberman Bibas, HY”D: Shiri, 32, was born in Kibbutz Nir Oz, from where she and her family were kidnapped on Oct. 7, 2023. The video of Shiri trying to protect her two children, Ariel and Kfir, with her hands, terror on her face, as she was surrounded by many brutal terrorists, became a symbol of that horrific day to the world.

Shiri’s parents, Yossi, HY”D and Margit, HY”D Silberman, were also murdered on that tragic day.

According to the Hostage Family Forum, Shiri was “a dedicated mother and accountant, known for her boundless kindness, who nurtured and cared for all the kibbutz children. She touched everyone’s heart with her capacity for giving and love for others.”

Ariel Bibas, HY”D: Ariel, 5, and his brother, Kfir, were the youngest hostages taken by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023. At the time of his abduction, Ariel loved Batman and playing with toy tractors. Photos of Ariel often showed him before his haircut, with long red hair, and right after a haircut, wrapped in a hairdresser’s cape.

His paternal grandmother, Pnina Bibas, wrote him a letter printed in part in a Times of Israel article at the time of his fifth birthday, “I try to imagine the moment you’ll return to us. Will you still call me ‘Grandma Nini?’ Will you still want to play ‘piggyback?’I can almost hear your laughter as you splash water on me while we water the plants in the garden.”

Kfir Bibas, HY”D: Kfir, 2, along with his older brother Ariel, drew world attention as the adorable redheaded children who were taken hostage on Oct. 7, 2023. Kfir was said to have “a smile that could melt any heart.” He was just 9 months old when he was stolen from his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz, along with his mother and brother, and never celebrated a birthday in freedom. A picture of him holding a toy elephant, looking into the camera with a toothless grin, has been featured and shared throughout the world over the past 16 months. His father, Yarden, was taken hostage as well, yet held elsewhere. Yarden was released on Feb. 1 as part of phase one of the ceasefire deal.

Oded Lifshitz, HY”D: Oded, 84, was one of the founders of Kibbutz Nir Oz. He was abducted from his home during the Oct. 7, 2023 attack alongside his wife, Yocheved. Five Hamas operatives broke into the safe room where the couple was sheltering; Oded was shot in the hand and lost consciousness, while Yocheved was pulled from her bed, and both were taken to Gaza. Yocheved was freed about two weeks after the abduction together with Nurit Cooper, whose husband Amiram Cooper, HY”D was killed in Hamas captivity.

Oded was a journalist, a prominent figure in the kibbutz movement and a peace activist. He dedicated his life to helping others, including transporting sick Gazans to Israeli hospitals for treatment. In their yard at Nir Oz, Oded and Yocheved nurtured a magnificent cactus garden. Dozens of volunteers came together to rehabilitate the garden as a symbol of solidarity and hope for his return.

Baruch Dayan Emet. May their memories be a blessing.

Ceasefire Deal

In the current first phase of the truce, Hamas agreed to free 33 hostages, while Jerusalem agreed to commute the sentences of some 2,000 Arab terrorists, including many convicted of deadly attacks. So far, 24 hostages have been released in exchange for 1,135 prisoners.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar confirmed earlier on Tuesday that Jerusalem decided to start talks on phase two of the deal, which would see the remaining living hostages, both civilians and soldiers, released.

As part of the talks set to begin later this week, the Israeli government will demand the complete disarmament of Iranian-backed Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist organizations in Gaza, the minister stressed.

May Hamas be wiped off the face of this earth.