The remains of the Bibas family, who were taken hostage by Hamas on Oct 7 and died in the terrorists’ captivity, will be returned to Israel on Thursday. In what is set to be an emotional day of mourning in Israel, the bodies of hostages Shiri Bibas, her children Ariel and Kfir, and Oded Lifshitz will be repatriated.

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.

The remains of the youngest and one of the oldest captives seized by Hamas during the attack that ignited the war in the Gaza Strip are expected to be returned Thursday, an Israeli official said Wednesday.

Hamas is due to hand over the bodies of four hostages Thursday, including those of the Bibas family, who have become symbols of the hostage crisis that has gripped Israel since the Gaza war broke out.

The militant Palestinian group Hamas plans to hand over on Thursday the mortal remains of four people abducted from Israel to the Gaza Strip in 2023. Israel plans to verify their identities afterwards.

Hamas and Israel announced a deal Tuesday for the release of six living hostages from Gaza and the return of four captives' bodies -- including, the militants said, the remains