Why was the Bibas children not released first?

Some online news sites are saying the 4 to be released on Saturday will be one female civilian and 3 female solider observers - which would be the 3 young girls taken from the military base?

Precisely.
All about optics and playing into the hands of sympathetic supporters.

They'll sneak the mass murderers out later.

Those poor children, didn’t realise there was a chance they may still be alive. Really hope if so they’re released soon.

I think the answer is that the mother and kids are dead.
sickening. I read they allegedly died in the bombing of Rafah. The truth may never be known.

I wondered this too. It's horrific cruelty to keep those poor babies held. Hamas are vile and gleeful to engage in psychological torture as well as the physical.

I suspect because now they have another 7 days to try and get other hostages looking "healthier" before they are paraded infront of the world and Hamas can pretend like they've taken such good care of them over the last 15 months

Also I suspect they'll also be the last to be released from Phase 1 to ensure that the ceasefire lasts at least the 6 weeks. I'd imagine they aren't too concerned about handing back remains of hostages that's if they can even locate them or serving members / young men from the IDF so the ceasefire will collapse in 42 days

Sadly I think it won't be good news. We know Sinwar liked his human shields and was keener on martyrdom for other Gazans than for himself. So I think if little Kfir been available for strapping to one of the leadership when the net started to close, he would've been.

Also practically speaking, Hamas were walking quite a delicate tightrope yesterday. It made the most sense for them to send back three living hostages in good condition.

I suspect Because all Hamas care about is consolidating their power & being as cruel as they possibly can be. So firstly they'll want to release the hostages who are alive & in the best health to make themselves look good, while putting on that nice show of military swagger for their base. Given that they had 'technical issues' even finding the list of hostages there's a high chance they dont even know where people are.

Because the hostages are being held by terrorists (and terrorist supporting innocent civilians)

They cannot miss any chance for cruelty

I hope these poor children are still alive

At this point nobody can tell you the answer to that for sure. We can make guesses from the available information, but that's all. What we do know is that the whole process involves a high level of psychological cruelty. People had to wait to know if their loved ones would be 'on the list', people know that not all of the people on the list are alive, people have to wait to see if their loved ones are 'next on the list', and then have to hope their loved one returns alive, while knowing that means other families will not get that news.

I thought this and then read that they are expecting some of the released hostages to be dead - ie that their bodies would be returned. I am hoping otherwise but I would imagine this is the case for that family, and maybe for the younger men mentioned on the list. We'll know in a few weeks I suppose.

Because the cruel men involved enjoy toying with peoples emotions.

I do hope those children are alive and released imminently.

Yes I wondered this too...

I’ll consult my glass bowl.