Sebastian Usher

Hamas has said that there is a possibility of an error, that there might have been human remains that got mixed due to Israeli airstrikes. Hamas has always said that the Bibas family were killed in an Israeli airstrike in November 2023, just a month or so after they were abducted on October the 7th. I mean, it's strange that they're saying that now.

Hamas has said that there is a possibility of an error, that there might have been human remains that got mixed due to Israeli airstrikes. Hamas has always said that the Bibas family were killed in an Israeli airstrike in November 2023, just a month or so after they were abducted on October the 7th. I mean, it's strange that they're saying that now.

If they knew that beforehand, then they were taking a huge risk, perhaps a very provocative risk. If they still sent the body, they must have known that Israel was going to conduct a very intense forensic investigation. I mean, there are other possibilities. Again, it's speculation, but Hamas didn't actually abduct the Bebas family.

If they knew that beforehand, then they were taking a huge risk, perhaps a very provocative risk. If they still sent the body, they must have known that Israel was going to conduct a very intense forensic investigation. I mean, there are other possibilities. Again, it's speculation, but Hamas didn't actually abduct the Bebas family.

They were taken by another armed faction and, as far as we know, were then passed on to another after that, but not Hamas. So, we've had this before when Hamas had been asked by Israel to give a precise list of all the hostages and their condition and things looked like they were about to fall apart.

They were taken by another armed faction and, as far as we know, were then passed on to another after that, but not Hamas. So, we've had this before when Hamas had been asked by Israel to give a precise list of all the hostages and their condition and things looked like they were about to fall apart.

I mean, this was one of the things that broke apart ceasefire deals previously when it looked like they might happen. And, you know, it might have been then that Hamas simply didn't know those details in the past. And possibly this is the case again.

I mean, this was one of the things that broke apart ceasefire deals previously when it looked like they might happen. And, you know, it might have been then that Hamas simply didn't know those details in the past. And possibly this is the case again.

But I think what's clear is that the Israeli government and the Israeli public won't take heed of what Hamas has said in any way for now, unless it provides serious evidence. And this demand that the body of Shiri Bebas is somehow returned to Israel was will continue.

But I think what's clear is that the Israeli government and the Israeli public won't take heed of what Hamas has said in any way for now, unless it provides serious evidence. And this demand that the body of Shiri Bebas is somehow returned to Israel was will continue.

I think it might affect the wider ceasefire deal more than the exchange on Saturday. We'll have to see. I mean, we have received the notification from Hamas, which it's given to Israel, of of the six living hostages who are going to be released, who are due to be released on Saturday. So that part of a schedule is still going ahead.

I think it might affect the wider ceasefire deal more than the exchange on Saturday. We'll have to see. I mean, we have received the notification from Hamas, which it's given to Israel, of of the six living hostages who are going to be released, who are due to be released on Saturday. So that part of a schedule is still going ahead.

Hamas has also said that it is expecting just over 600 Palestinian prisoners to be released in exchange. We haven't yet received information about that. We haven't received anything from Israel saying that it would delay or somehow get them away of that. So at the moment... The expectation is that in the immediate future, the ceasefire deal, which is still in phase one, will go ahead.

Hamas has also said that it is expecting just over 600 Palestinian prisoners to be released in exchange. We haven't yet received information about that. We haven't received anything from Israel saying that it would delay or somehow get them away of that. So at the moment... The expectation is that in the immediate future, the ceasefire deal, which is still in phase one, will go ahead.

I mean, after Saturday, there's one more handover that's due to happen of the four remaining dead bodies of Israeli hostages. And then that will be all 33 alive or dead that were to be returned in the first phase. You know, I've been saying a lot and everyone else has phase two, which is due tomorrow. to start as soon as one assumes phase one comes to an end.

I mean, after Saturday, there's one more handover that's due to happen of the four remaining dead bodies of Israeli hostages. And then that will be all 33 alive or dead that were to be returned in the first phase. You know, I've been saying a lot and everyone else has phase two, which is due tomorrow. to start as soon as one assumes phase one comes to an end.

The talks on that haven't begun in earnest. We've heard from the Israeli government that they are due to start this week, but we've heard nothing more since. And the issues that they have to deal with are potentially more intractable. So whether these developments are

The talks on that haven't begun in earnest. We've heard from the Israeli government that they are due to start this week, but we've heard nothing more since. And the issues that they have to deal with are potentially more intractable. So whether these developments are

to do with the body of Sheree Bibas and also the accusation from the forensic investigation that her two children were murdered by those who were holding them captive. I mean, that, of course, raises the temperature too. Sebastian Asher.

to do with the body of Sheree Bibas and also the accusation from the forensic investigation that her two children were murdered by those who were holding them captive. I mean, that, of course, raises the temperature too. Sebastian Asher.