Hamas will free six Israeli hostages from the Gaza Strip on Saturday, but the exchange of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners has been overshadowed by increased tensions between the rivals that threaten the fragile ceasefire agreement.

Red Cross ambulances were on hand in Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost town, in preparation for the release of the latest prisoners.

After a gruesome and heartbreaking dispute last week, Hamas handed the wrong body to Shiri Bibias, an Israeli mother who had two sons abducted by militants.

Hamas later confirmed that the remains transferred by Hamas with her sons bodies on Thursday belonged to an unidentified Palestinian. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, vowed revenge on Hamas for what he called “a cruel and malicious act.” Hamas said it was a mistake.

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The Palestinian Mujahedeen Brigades, a small militant group that is believed to be holding Bibas and sons, announced on Friday night it had handed over a second corpse. Bibas’ family confirmed to the media on Saturday morning that Israeli forensic authorities have confirmed the remains are hers.

The family stated that “for 16 months, we searched for certainty. Now that it is here, it does not bring comfort. Though we hope this marks the beginnings of closure,”

The bodies of three other men were identified as Oded Lifshitz and Bibas’s sons. They were all 83 years old when they were captured by Hamas during an attack on Oct. 7, 2023 that resulted in the death of 1,200 Israelis and ignited war.

Israel stated that its tests showed the hostages were killed by their captors. Hamas claims that Lifshitz, and members of the Bibas Family were killed by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza.

The disagreement over the identity of the body has raised doubts about the ceasefire agreement, which has stopped 15 months of fighting but is approaching the end of the first phase. The negotiations over the second phase of negotiations, where Hamas releases dozens more hostages for a ceasefire lasting and an Israeli pullout, will likely be more difficult.

Hamas’ Al-Qassam Brigades said that despite the dispute they would proceed with the planned release of six Israeli hostages on Saturday. These six hostages are the last to be released during the first phase of the ceasefire.

Eliya Wenkert (23), Omer Shem-Tov (22), and Eliya Cohen (27). The three abducted were all from a music event during the attack on Oct. 7. Tal Shoham (40), who was abducted from Kibbutz beeri, will also be released.

Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed (both 36) who were detained after crossing into Gaza by themselves years ago are also expected to be returned to Israel under the agreement.

As Hamas prepared for the release of the hostages, hundreds of people gathered on Saturday morning in rainy Rafah.

The Palestinian Prisoners Media Office announced Friday that more than 600 Palestinians who are currently imprisoned in Israel would be released in exchange. In addition to the 50 prisoners serving life sentences and 60 prisoners with long sentences who will be released, there are also 47 prisoners that were previously freed as part of a hostage for prisoner exchange, along with 445 Gaza prisoners arrested since war began.

Hamas said that it would also release four additional bodies next week to complete the first phase ceasefire. Hamas will retain 60 hostages if the plan is implemented. About half are still alive.

Hamas says it will not release any remaining hostages without a permanent ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal. Netanyahu, with full support from the Trump administration says he is committed to destroying Hamas’ military and governance capacities and returning all hostages. These goals are widely viewed as mutually exclusive.

Trump’s proposal that the U.S. take over Gaza and rebuild it, removing about 2,000,000 Palestinians has further weakened the ceasefire. Netanyahu has welcomed his idea, but Palestinians and Arab nations have rejected it.

Trump said that he had been “a little shocked” at the rejection of his proposal by Egypt, Jordan and Israel and that he wouldn’t impose it.

I’ll tell my plan to you. This is the plan I believe will work. But I won’t force it. In a Fox News Interview, Trump said: “I’m going to recommend it and just sit back.”

Gaza’s Health Ministry does not distinguish between combatants and civilians. Israel claims to have killed more than 17,000 fighters without providing any evidence.

The offensive left Gaza in ruins, with entire neighbourhoods reduced to rubble. The war at its peak displaced 90 percent of Gaza’s residents. Many people have returned home to find that their homes are a wreck and there is no way to rebuild.