The White House backs Israel's decision to postpone the release of 602 Palestinian security prisoners, citing Hamas's "barbaric treatment" of hostages and the "hideous parade" of the Bibas boys' coffins. This move, endorsed by President Trump, underscores the US support for Israel's actions in response to Hamas's behavior during the hostage exchange process.
Following the return of the bodies of Ariel and Kfir Bibas, and amid concerns over Hamas's handling of hostage releases, the US has voiced its support for Israel's decision to postpone the release of 602 Palestinian prisoners. The White House described the delay as an "appropriate response" to Hamas's actions.
"Given Hamas’s barbaric treatment of the hostages, including the hideous parade of the Bibas children’s coffins through the streets of Gaza, Israel’s decision to delay the release of prisoners is an appropriate response.” - Brian Hughes, US National Security Council spokesman
US President Donald Trump has expressed his support for Israel's chosen course of action regarding Hamas, whether it involves maintaining the ceasefire or resuming hostilities in Gaza. He noted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's anger over the "barbaric" killing of Ariel and Kfir Bibas.
The bodies of Ariel and Kfir Bibas, along with hostage Oded Lifshitz and an unidentified Gazan woman, were returned to Israel. Initial reports from Hamas claimed the woman was Shiri Bibas, the mother of Ariel and Kfir. However, Shiri's body was returned separately after Israeli protests.
Israeli authorities later confirmed the identities of the slain captives and determined that the mother and her two sons were "brutally" murdered by their captors.
Investigations revealed that Ariel and Kfir were killed "in cold blood" with their "bare hands," and atrocities were committed to hide the evidence.
Yarden Bibas, Shiri’s husband and the boys’ father, had been released on February 1 as part of the initial hostage deal. The family was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz during the October 7, 2023, attack, where Hamas-led terrorists killed approximately 1,200 people and took 251 hostages.
The first phase of the hostage deal stipulated the release of 33 women, children, civilian men over 50, and "humanitarian cases" in exchange for roughly 1,900 Palestinian prisoners, including over 270 individuals serving life sentences for the murder of Israelis.
Netanyahu has hesitated to proceed with the deal's second phase, which involves the release of remaining living hostages, due to threats from his right-wing flank to topple the government if Israel withdraws from Gaza as required by the agreement.
Currently, terror groups in Gaza hold 63 hostages:
The IDF has confirmed the deaths of at least 36 hostages. Under the current hostage deal, Hamas has released 30 hostages, including:
Prior to this, Hamas had released 105 civilians during a week-long truce in late November 2023, and four hostages were released in the early weeks of the conflict. Eight hostages have been rescued alive by troops, and the bodies of 41 have been recovered, including three mistakenly killed by the Israeli military and the body of Staff Sgt. Oron Shaul, who was killed in 2014.