Israel's prime minister is warning the nation is about to face a "difficult" and "wrenching" day as the bodies of four hostages are released by Hamas in Gaza.
The handover, expected to happen on Thursday morning, local time, is the first return of dead Israelis under the current six-week ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
The remains of mother Shiri Bibas and her two sons Ariel and Kfir, who were aged four and nine months at the time of their abduction, will be among those returned to Israel.
Hamas said the trio were killed as Israel launched its bombardment of Gaza in November 2023, a month after they were taken from the home in Kibbutz Nir Oz.
Israel has never confirmed their deaths.
The fourth hostage to be returned on Thursday will be great-grandfather Oded Lifschitz, a retired journalist also abducted from Nir Oz.
The ABC spoke to his grandson Daniel a month ago when the family knew Oded would be freed during the ceasefire but had no idea whether he was alive or dead.
"It's very difficult to prepare for a festival and a funeral — it's impossible," he said in January.
In a video statement released on Wednesday night, Mr Netanyahu said the nation was braced for a "difficult day".
"A wrenching day, a day of grief," he said
"We are bringing home four of our beloved hostages, deceased.
"We embrace the families, and the heart of the entire nation is torn. My own heart is torn. So is yours.
"And all of the world's heart should be torn, because this demonstrates who we are dealing with, what we are dealing with — with such monsters."
On Tuesday Hamas announced the Bibas family would be among the remains returned on Thursday, but had not commented on the identity of the fourth dead hostage.
Hamas provided formal notification of the names of those to be returned on Wednesday night.
"This news cuts like a knife through our hearts, the families' hearts, and the hearts of people all over the world," the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement.
"They weren't just names — they were beloved people, with families who cherished them, with dreams and futures stolen from them.
"We grieve not only for them, but for the other precious lives lost, including four more deceased hostages who will be returned next week."
The group said the return of their remains highlighted the desperate need to continue the ceasefire beyond the current deal's expiry on March 2.
"This cannot continue. Not one more day. The second stage of the deal must happen now," the forum said.
"There is no more time to waste.
"Not when every passing moment could mean another life lost, another family shattered."
Red Cross calls for privacy as bodies are returned
As with the handovers of living hostages, the International Red Cross will be responsible for taking custody of the bodies in Gaza and transporting them to Israel.
"As we prepare for the next release operation, we once again call for all releases to be conducted in a private and dignified manner, including when they tragically involve the deceased," the organisation said in a statement.
"We must be clear: any degrading treatment during release operations is unacceptable.
"We have repeatedly urged both publicly and privately to those with the responsibility and the authority over these releases, and those with influence on them, to ensure that they are conducted with privacy, respect, and care."
Israeli media is reporting the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will conduct a military ceremony in memory of the dead hostages as their remains are handed over by the Red Cross.
The bodies will then be taken to the National Forensics Institute in Tel Aviv, where they will be formally identified and investigations into how the Israelis died will be conducted.
"The most important thing is that no-one needs to come here," Israel's Health Minister Uriel Busso said after a visit to the centre on Wednesday.
"The process can take a short time to a very long time.
"We do not have information exactly about the condition of the dead who are supposed to arrive here, so we need patience because it is important that we both know for sure a precise identification and also try to know the cause of death as much as possible."
During the releases of living hostages, crowds have gathered to watch the event on big screens at Hostage Square in central Tel Aviv.
The Hostage Forum confirmed people would gather at the spot on Thursday as the handover was underway, but said it would not be broadcast at the space.
More Palestinian prisoners and detainees to be released, reports show
The handover of the four bodies could trigger Israeli authorities to release more Palestinian prisoners and detainees from jail.
Israeli media is reporting the cohort freed on Thursday could include women and children taken since the war in Gaza began, but sources in Gaza have told the ABC that is yet to be confirmed.
If women and children are released, it will fuel scathing criticism of Israeli authorities about their detention.
The release of the four bodies on Thursday also comes ahead of six more hostages being freed on Saturday.
It will be the last group of living captives to be freed, as part of the current six-week ceasefire.
Another four bodies are expected to be handed over next week.
The latest releases are happening against a backdrop of significant uncertainty and anxiety over the future of the truce in Gaza.
The current ceasefire is due to lapse on March 2, and talks on a lasting peace were meant to begin a fortnight ago — but are only commencing this week.
On Wednesday, Israel's foreign minister said his country could return to fighting in Gaza if the deal collapsed, but said the current agreement could be extended if negotiations on the future of Gaza were looking promising ahead of that deadline.
The pitch by US President Donald Trump to take control of Gaza, clearing out Palestinians and building the "Riviera of the Middle East", continues to cast a long shadow over phase two of the talks.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrapped up his visit to the Middle East in the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday, where he met with the country's president — who reiterated the Arab opposition to any plan which involved the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza.
