Israelis had hoped against hope that the family, taken when the youngest was just nine months old, had survived their captivity.

Children and brothers Kfir and Ariel Bibas, symbols of the worst assault on Jews since the Holocaust, were kidnapped along with their mother by Hamas.

Hamas freed two hostages and was set to release four more from Gaza on Saturday in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees, after Israel confirmed that a body handed over hours earlier was that of hostage Shiri Bibas.