Hamas has revealed the bodies of two young children taken hostage 16 months ago will be handed over to Israeli authorities on Thursday, along with the remains of their mother.
The Bibas family were abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz, near the Gaza border.
Images of a terrified Shiri Bibas cradling her two children, four year old Ariel and nine month old Kfir, as they were surrounded by militants are among the most striking images from October 7 2023.
Yarden Bibas was released by the group more than a fortnight ago, but Hamas said his wife and children had been killed during Israel's bombardment of Gaza.
The return of their bodies to Israel is likely to prompt an outpouring of grief across the country, and fuel more questions and criticism of the Netanyahu government as to its conduct during the war in Gaza and its willingness to accept the terms of ceasefire and hostage deals.
Hamas' leader in Gaza, Khalil Al-Hayya announced Shiri, Ariel and Kfir's remains would be handed over on Thursday, along with the body of another dead Israeli hostage.
In a statement, the Bibas family said they had "not yet received any official confirmation".
"Until we receive definitive confirmation, our journey is not over," the family said.
"We ask the media and the public to respect our privacy and refrain from contacting us about this matter."
Six hostages will also be freed on Saturday — the last of the living captives slated for release during the initial six week Gaza ceasefire — while the remains of another four dead Israelis will be handed over next week.
Al-Hayya said the development was a reflection of Hamas' "ongoing efforts to make the first phase of the ceasefire agreement with the enemy a success and to prepare for engaging in the second phase."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office did not specifically comment on the news regarding the Bibas family, but did confirm the broader details of the announcement, saying they had been agreed upon by negotiators in Cairo.
Hamas had said Shiri, Ariel and Kfir Bibas had been killed as far back as November 2023, but the Israeli government had never confirmed that news other than to say it had grave fears for their wellbeing.
Hamas accuses Israel of delaying ceasefire talks
Hamas accused Israel of stalling during crucial negotiations on a lasting peace in Gaza, which were meant to begin more than a fortnight ago.
"Hamas and the resistance have proven their seriousness in implementing the [ceasefire] agreement with full responsibility, while the occupation and the Netanyahu government are responding to this seriousness with procrastination and attempts to evade implementing the agreement, especially in the humanitarian aspect," Al-Hayya said.
"We are still working day and night, in all directions, and with mediators, especially Qatar and Egypt, to oblige the occupation to what was agreed upon in the first stage, especially with regard to relief and shelter materials, heavy equipment, fuel and electricity alternatives."
Earlier, Israel's foreign minister Gideon Sa'ar told reporters in Jerusalem that his country's negotiators were yet to begin the 'phase two' talks.
"We had yesterday night a security cabinet meeting — we decided to open negotiations on the second phase, it will happen this week," he said.
Mr Sa'ar said Israel would never agree to any plan for the future of Gaza which included the involvement of Hamas or the Palestinian Authority (PA), which operates in the occupied West Bank.
"We demand complete demilitarisation of Gaza. We will not accept the continued presence of Hamas or any other terrorist groups in Gaza.
"If the plan, for example [is] … transferring the control, the civil control, from Hamas to PA and the continuation of the presence of terror organisations there, according to the Hezbollah model of Lebanon, this is totally unacceptable."
Qatar, which is acting as a mediator in the negotiations, confirmed they were yet to start.
"We are pushing with our partners in the mediation to make sure that they start as soon as possible in order for us to have enough time to discuss them before the proposed end of phase one."
Mr Sa'ar said there were "three theoretical options" for what could happen on March 2, when the current six week ceasefire is due to expire.
"First is that we will achieve an agreement on phase two before the 42nd day," he said.
"Second we will see negotiations are not leading anywhere, not effective, not, constructive and we will be back taking military actions.
"Third option is we'll see there is a constructive dialogue with a possible horizon of getting to an agreement, and we will make this [current ceasefire] work longer."
Sa'ar insists Gazans will want to leave the strip
US President Donald Trump's pitch to take over Gaza and resettle Palestinians in neighbouring countries, ahead of rebuilding the strip continues to loom over the 'phase two' talks.
Egypt and Jordan have both rejected suggestions they would take in displaced Palestinians.
"For 25 years I have been saying: no to displacement, no to settlement, no to an alternative homeland," Jordan's King Abdullah said on Monday.
""After 25 years, why should I change my position?"
Gideon Sa'ar insisted Palestinians living in Gaza should be given the option to leave.
"So where is someone who wants to immigrate on one hand, and there is a country which is ready to accept him on the other hand, it is totally human, moral, and it is the same with regard to Gaza as anywhere else in the world," he said.
The ABC questioned Mr Sa'ar as to what would happen to the proposal if Gazans did not want to leave.
"Do you really think people don't want to go out from Gaza," he responded.
The White House has not explained exactly how President Trump's idea would work — including matters such as what would happen if neighbouring countries refuse to take in displaced Palestinians, who would be responsible for ceding control of the territory to the US, who would fund the rebuilding.
