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The mother of two young boys murdered by Hamas while in captivity was not among the bodies returned to Israel on Thursday and the terrorist group is claiming it was a mix-up.

Hamas officials reportedly said Friday that the remains of Israeli hostage Shiri Bibas were "turned into pieces after apparently being mixed with other bodies under the rubble," following an Israeli air strike that hit the place she was held in.

The bodies of Kfir Bibas, Ariel Bibas and Oded Lifshitz were returned to Israel more than 500 days after they were taken hostage, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has confirmed. 

FATHER OF HAMAS’ YOUNGEST HOSTAGES IS RELEASED — BUT HIS FAMILY REMAINS IN HAMAS CAPTIVITY

Before the return of the remains of the four slain hostages, Hamas said the bodies would include Shiri Bibas and her two toddlers, Ariel and Kfir, ages 4 and 10 months, as well as Oded Lifshitz, a retired journalist and activist. However, Israel's National Institute of Forensic Medicine could only determine the identity of two of the bodies, the young boys. 

Instead of sending the body of Shiri Bibas in the coffin bearing her name and photo, Hamas handed Israel an unidentified body. The IDF said the DNA of the body in the coffin does not match any other known hostage.

HAMAS HANDS OVER BODIES OF 4 SLAIN ISRAELIS, INCLUDING SHIRI BIBAS AND HER TWO YOUNG BOYS

"During the identification process, it was determined that the additional body received is not that of Shiri Bibas, and no match was found for any other hostage," the IDF said. "This is an anonymous, unidentified body."

"According to the assessment of professional officials, based on the intelligence available to us and forensic findings from the identification process, Ariel and Kfir Bibas were brutally murdered by terrorists in captivity in November 2023," authorities said. 

The Red Cross, which handled the transfer on Thursday, said it was "concerned and unsatisfied" by the way Hamas hostage release operations have taken place. 

"The ICRC does not participate in sorting, screening, or examining the deceased - this is the responsibility of the parties to the conflict", it said in a statement on Friday, while expressing concern that the releases had not been conducted privately and in a dignified manner.

Scientists who have been exploring the Red Sea have discovered natural death traps in the region now believed to be the location where Moses parted the waters.

The brine pools were found 4,000 feet below the surface of the Gulf of Aqaba, where the water is estimated to be up to 10 times saltier than normal seawater and a lack of oxygen causes the pools to kill or stun all marine life that enters it, according to a study published in Nature Communications.

The study also claimed larger predators lurk near the edge of the pools to grab the helpless prey after they have succumbed to the effects.

DEEP-SEA DISCOVERY: ANCIENT CORAL MAY HAVE BEEN THE FIRST GLOW-IN-THE-DARK CREATURES, STUDY FINDS

A research team led by Sam Purkis, a professor and chair of the Department of Marine Geosciences at the University of Miami, used remotely operated submersibles and deep-sea probes to explore the area of deep-sea trenches lying between Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.

The team speculates that the environment caused by these conditions also mimics the harsh conditions of early Earth and believe this is especially true for this location in the deep sea where they speculate life may have first emerged.

"Our current understanding is that life originated on Earth in the deep sea, almost certainly in anoxic—without oxygen—conditions," said Purkis. 

SPOOKY DEEP-SEA FISH RARELY SEEN BY HUMANS CAUGHT ON CAMERA IN SHALLOW WATER: 'NIGHTMARE FUEL'

The study even suggested that these "death pools" could possibly provide clues assisting in the search for extraterrestrial organisms.

This unique ecosystem is one of the most extreme environments on the planet, the study said, and that it was possible they resemble conditions found on distant "water worlds" beyond our solar system.

Because very few organisms survive in the brine pools, the sediment layers have remained undisturbed and have preserved an archive of past climate changes and geological events.

"Ordinarily, these animals bioturbate or churn up the seabed, disturbing the sediments that accumulate there," according to Purkis. "Not so with the brine pools. Here, any sedimentary layers that settle to the bed of the brine pool remain exquisitely intact."

He and his team hope the pristine conditions will allow them to better study ancient ocean conditions and assist them in reconstructing climate patterns and tracking the evolution of Earth’s ecosystems over millions of years.

Oceanographers have discovered similar formations in the Mediterranean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Antarctic Ocean, but none at this depth.

The mother of two young boys murdered by Hamas terrorists while in captivity was not among the bodies returned to Israel on Thursday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said. 

Before the return of the remains of the four slain hostages, Hamas said the bodies would include Shiri Bibas and her two toddlers, Ariel and Kfir, ages 4 and 10 months, as well as Oded Lifshitz, a retired journalist and activist. However, Israel's National Institute of Forensic Medicine could only determine the identity of two of the bodies, the young boys. 

FATHER OF HAMAS’ YOUNGEST HOSTAGES IS RELEASED — BUT HIS FAMILY REMAINS IN HAMAS CAPTIVITY

"During the identification process, it was determined that the additional body received is not that of Shiri Bibas, and no match was found for any other hostage," the IDF said. "This is an anonymous, unidentified body."

"According to the assessment of professional officials, based on the intelligence available to us and forensic findings from the identification process, Ariel and Kfir Bibas were brutally murdered by terrorists in captivity in November 2023," authorities said. 

The family became symbols of the ordeal that has gripped Israel since the war in Gaza began. 

"We extend our heartfelt condolences to the Bibas family during this incredibly difficult time and remain committed to doing everything possible to ensure Shiri and all the hostages are brought home at the earliest opportunity," the IDF said. 

It called the deaths a "violation of utmost severity" by Hamas, while also demanding the terror group return the body of Shiri Bibas and all other hostages being held captive. 

HAMAS FREES 3 MORE HOSTAGES IN EXCHANGE FOR MORE THAN 300 PRISONERS AS PART OF CEASEFIRE DEAL WITH ISRAEL

Danny Danon, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, said Hamas continues to "violate every basic moral value," even after the death of the boys. 

"Instead of returning Shiri, the mother of Kfir and Ariel, Hamas returned an unidentified body, as if it were a worthless shipment," he wrote on X. "This is a new low, an evil and cruelty with no parallel."

He further said that UN Secretary-General António Guterres, UN the Security Council and the General Assembly continue to remain silent in the face of Hamas' "barbarity" and demanded Hamas to return the body of Shiri Bibas. 

"History will remember well who stood by and remained silent while Hamas trampled on the most basic principles of humanity," Danon wrote. 

The young boys and their mother were abducted in their home by Hamas terrorists during the terror group's deadly Oct. 7, 2023 attack. Yarden Bibas, Ariel and Kfir's father, tried to protect them and was abducted prior to the kidnapping of his wife and children, the IDF said. 

Yarden returned as part of the agreement for the return of the hostages on Feb. 1. 

Thursday's release is the first one involving the transfer of slain hostages since the ceasefire deal went into effect last month.

About 70 hostages remain in Hamas custody. Nearly all the remaining hostages, including Israeli soldiers, are men and about half are believed to be dead.

The bodies of Shiri, Kfir and Ariel Bibas and Oded Lifshitz were returned to Israel more than 500 days after the four of them were taken hostage. Hamas, though, was not finished disrespecting and using the hostages. 

Coffins containing the remains of the four murdered Israeli hostages were put on display in a ceremony that has been nearly universally condemned. The four coffins were laid out on stage in front of a grotesque caricature of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a banner that read in English, "The war criminal Netanyahu & his Nazi army killed them with missiles from Zionist warplanes."

On the coffin allegedly containing Shiri Bibas there was a photo of the young mother next to the words "arrest date" and the date of the Oct. 7 attacks. At the time of this writing, Israel has only confirmed the identity of Lifshitz. 

HAMAS HANDS OVER BODIES OF 4 SLAIN ISRAELIS, INCLUDING SHIRI BIBAS AND HER TWO YOUNG BOYS

"Under international law, any handover of the remains of [the] deceased must comply with the prohibition of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, ensuring respect for the dignity of the deceased and their families," the United Nations Geneva tweeted, attributing the quote to High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk.

Türk’s condemnation of the Hamas ceremony, however, rang hollow for many who pointed out the U.N.’s reluctance to condemn the terror organization by name.

"Hamas parading four coffins onstage to music is evil and depraved," Israeli UN Ambassador Danny Danon said in a statement to Fox News Digital. 

"For 16 months, Israel has been fighting a deranged terrorist organization that places no value on human life, especially if it is Israeli or Jewish— all while international institutions like the UN refrained from condemning Hamas and formally demanding the immediate return of our hostages."

DANNY DANON REACTS TO ISRAELI HOSTAGES BEING RELEASED IN POOR HEALTH: 'ELIMINATING HAMAS IS THE ONLY SOLUTION'

On Oct. 7, 2023, Türk put out a statement that appeared to equate Hamas’ attacks with Israel’s response, saying he was "shocked and appalled" by the violent attacks and condemning Israel’s response.

Director of the Touro Institute on Human Rights and the Holocaust and President and Human Rights Voice Anne Bayefsky accused Türk of being "one of the leading drivers of Palestinian terrorism and global antisemitism in the world today."

"He [Türk] personifies the use and abuse of ‘human rights’ as a front to perpetrate evil. He has blood on his hands," Bayefsky told Fox News Digital. "Volker Türk - the UN's top human rights official - is a human rights fraud who has more concern for Jews after death than saving Jewish lives from Palestinian savagery before they've perished."

‘NO SANE COUNTRY WOULD STAND FOR THIS’: LAWMAKERS LAUNCH EFFORT TO WITHDRAW US FROM UN

United Nations watchdog organization UN Watch called for Türk’s resignation in its December 2024 report showing that the human rights commissioner condemned the U.S. more than China, North Korea, Cuba, Saudi Arabia and Qatar combined. The organization also accused Türk of focusing on the Jewish state.

"Türk was obsessed with condemning Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East, making 58 condemnations during the past two years, with 49 on the Hamas-Israel war. To put this in perspective, over the same two years, the Maduro regime in Venezuela was criticized only 4 times," the report reads.

After the Oct. 7 attacks, Shiri Bibas and her sons, Kfir and Ariel, became symbols of Hamas’ brutality. The image of a terrified mother holding her 4-year-old and 9-month-old quickly spread around the world. Yarden Bibas, Shiri’s husband and the father of Kfir and Ariel, was taken captive separately and was ultimately released from Gaza on Feb. 1.

In addition to the bodies of the Bibas family and Lifshitz, Israel is preparing to receive six living hostages on Saturday as part of its ongoing ceasefire deal with Hamas.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights but did not receive a response in time for publication. 

Two buses in a parking lot reportedly exploded in Israel Thursday night in what appears to have been a terrorist attack. No one was injured. Several other bombs were reportedly discovered on other buses, according to TPS-IL, an Israeli news agency.

Israeli officials have ordered all bus and train services halted while all vehicles are inspected for bombs following two bus explosions. Israeli police on Thursday reported a series of explosions on buses in central Israel in what they said appeared to be a militant attack.

This story is breaking. Please check back for updates. 

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Thursday that she will propose constitutional reforms aimed at protecting the country’s sovereignty over concerns the U.S. military could cross the border to pursue Mexican drug cartels.

Sheinbaum made the remarks after the Trump administration designated six Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, stoking fears that President Donald Trump may be setting up the possibility for U.S. military action inside Mexico.

"The Mexican people will not accept under any circumstances interventions, interference or any other act from abroad that could be harmful to the integrity, independence and sovereignty of the nation," Sheinbaum said.

The Mexican cartels on the Trump administration’s list include the Sinaloa, Jalisco, Zetas, the Gulf Cartels, Cartel Unidos and "La Nueva Familia Michoacana." Other groups include the international Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua and the Salvadoran gang Mara Salvatrucha – also known as MS-13.

BORDER STATE OFFICIALS PUT CARTELS ON NOTICE AS THEY AWAIT GREEN LIGHT TO TAKE MAJOR ACTION

Mexico, which has long rejected such a move by the U.S. to designate cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, was not consulted about the decision, Sheinbaum said.

Former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Sheinbaum’s predecessor, had already written into Mexican law limits to how foreign agents could operate in Mexico, limiting their independence and requiring that Mexican authorities be informed of their movements. Sheinbaum proposes enshrining those limits in the constitution.

SINALOA CARTEL TAKES ROOT IN AMERICAN NEIGHBORHOODS: WHERE ARE THEY?

"What we want to make clear in the face of this designation is that we do not negotiate sovereignty," Sheinbaum said. "This cannot be an opportunity for the United States to invade our sovereignty."

Sheinbaum also proposed a second reform to the constitution to create harsher penalties for Mexican nationals and foreigners involved in gun trafficking.

Mexico has long demanded that the U.S. do more to prevent guns from being smuggled into Mexico from the U.S.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

A village in the densely populated Philippine capital region launched a battle against dengue Wednesday by offering a token bounty to residents for captured mosquitoes — dead or alive.

The unusual strategy adopted by the Addition Hills village in Mandaluyong City reflects growing concern after the nearby city of Quezon declared an outbreak of the mosquito-borne illness over the weekend. Eight more areas reported an upsurge in cases of the potentially deadly viral infection.

At least 28,234 dengue cases have been recorded in the Philippines this year up to Feb. 1, a 40% increase compared to the same period last year, according to health department statistics. Quezon City declared a dengue outbreak on Saturday after deaths this year reached 10 people, mostly children, out of 1,769 residents infected.

US FLIES JOINT PATROL WITH THE PHILIPPINES NEAR SHOAL REGION GUARDED BY CHINA

An urban village of more than 100,000 residents living in crowded neighborhoods and residential condominium towers, Addition Hills has done clean-ups, canal de-clogging and a hygiene campaign to combat dengue. But when cases spiked to 42 this year and two young students died, village leader Carlito Cernal decided to intensify the battle.

"There was an alarm," Cernal told The Associated Press. "I found a way."

Residents will get a reward of one Philippines peso (just over 1 cent) for every five mosquitoes or mosquito larva they turn in, Cernal said.

Critics warned the strategy could backfire if desperate people start breeding mosquitoes for the reward. Cernal said that was unlikely because the campaign would be terminated as soon as the uptick in cases eases.

As the campaign began, about a dozen mosquito hunters showed up at the village office. Miguel Labag, a 64-year-old scavenger, handed a jug with 45 dark mosquito larvas squirming in some water and received a reward of nine pesos (15 cents).

"This is a big help," Labag said, smiling. "I can buy coffee."

Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection found in tropical countries worldwide. It can cause joint pain, nausea, vomiting and rashes, and in severe cases can cause breathing problems, hemorrhaging and organ failure. While there is no specific treatment for the illness, medical care to maintain a person’s fluid levels is seen as critical.

Officials in another village in Quezon City were considering releasing swarms of frogs to eat mosquitoes.

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said it’s crucial to clean up mosquito breeding sites, and for anyone who might be infected to seek immediate medical attention. Despite an increase in dengue infections, the Philippines has managed to maintain low mortality rates, he said.

Dengue cases surged unexpectedly ahead of the rainy season, which starts in June, likely because of intermittent downpours that have left stagnant pools of water where dengue-causing mosquitoes can breed, Health Undersecretary Alberto Domingo said, adding that climate change was likely contributing to off-season downpours.

Australia is "keeping close watch on" Chinese military ships traversing waters off its coast, Richard Marles, Australia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense, noted during an interview on Sky News Australia.

Marles said that the ships "have been abiding by international law," though he described the situation as "not unprecedented, but an unusual event." 

He said that while the ships have the right to be located in international waters, Australia has the right to surveil the ships.

CHINA OUTRAGED AFTER TRUMP STATE DEPARTMENT DELETES KEY PHRASE ON TAIWAN RELATIONS

"Defence is aware of a People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) task group operating to the north east of Australia," a Feb. 13 Australian Department of Defense statement noted. "Defence can confirm the Chinese vessels are the PLA-N Jiangkai-class frigate named Hengyang; the PLA-N Renhai cruiser named Zunyi and the PLA-N Fuchi-class replenishment vessel Weishanhu.

"Defence routinely monitors all maritime traffic in our Exclusive Economic Zone and maritime approaches. The vessels travelled through Southeast Asia, before entering Australia’s maritime approaches. One of the vessels, the Hengyang, transited the waters to Australia’s north," the statement noted.

The Financial Times recently reported that Australia's navy had been shadowing China's vessels 150 nautical miles east of Sydney, Australia.

New Zealand's military was monitoring China's vessels "in coordination with Australia," New Zealand Defense Minister Judith Collins indicated in a statement, according to the Associated Press.

SCHUMER SPOTTED POSING FOR PHOTO WITH CCP OFFICIAL AS WARNINGS SWIRL ABOUT CHINA INFLUENCE

"We have not been informed by the Chinese government why this task group has been deployed into our region, and we have not been informed what its future plans are," she noted, according to the AP. "We will continue to monitor these vessels."

A Chinese fighter plane released flares near a Royal Australian Air Force aircraft earlier this month, Australia's Defense Department said in another Feb. 13 statement.

"On 11 February 2025, a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft conducting a routine maritime surveillance patrol in the South China Sea experienced an unsafe and unprofessional interaction with a PLA-AF J-16 fighter aircraft," the statement notes.

CBP FINDS 161K FAKE US STAMPS IN SHIPMENT FROM CHINA

"The PLA-AF aircraft released flares in close proximity to the RAAF P-8A aircraft. This was an unsafe and unprofessional manoeuvre that posed a risk to the aircraft and personnel," though Australia's plane andDefense Force personnel were not harmed during the incident, the statement indicated.

The Kremlin is suggesting that another U.S.-Russia prisoner swap could be coming, just days after the release of two Americans who were detained by Russia, a report says. 

The Kremlin said Thursday that the idea of a possible new prisoner exchange between Russia and the U.S. is on the agenda, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov noting that talks between both sides this week in Saudi Arabia contributed to a general rapprochement, according to Reuters. 

At least 10 Americans remain held in Russia, the news agency reported. Kalob Byers, a 28-year-old American citizen detained in Russia on drug smuggling charges earlier this month, was freed ahead of Tuesday’s talks in Riyadh.  

Byers’ release came as Marc Fogel, a U.S. citizen who was detained on drug charges in Russia four years ago, was released last week in exchange for Russian prisoner Alexander Vinnik, who had been held by the U.S. government on cryptocurrency fraud charges. 

US, RUSSIAN OFFICIALS PROPOSE PEACE PLAN, LAY ‘GROUNDWORK FOR COOPERATION’ IN RIYADH 

After his arrival in the U.S., Fogel, from Pennsylvania, met with President Donald Trump at the White House and called him a hero for securing his release. 

U.S. and Russian officials held diplomatic talks in Saudi Arabia without any Ukrainian officials present on Tuesday. 

US RELEASING RUSSIAN PRISONER ALEXANDER VINNIK IN MARC FOGEL EXCHANGE, OFFICIAL SAYS 

The groups, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his Russian counterpart, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, were seeking terms for a peace agreement in Ukraine as well as negotiating a potential meeting between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.  

State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce also confirmed that Rubio's team agreed to "lay the groundwork for cooperation" with Russia on various issues in addition to Ukraine.  

Fox News’ Landon Mion, Anders Hagstrom, Jacqui Heinrich and Brie Stimson contributed to this report. 

Dissidents from across the globe gathered in Geneva, Switzerland, to tell the stories of their survival and escape from authoritarian regimes. In just a few days, the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) will kick off its 58th session in that same city.

In his opening remarks at the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy, UN Watch Executive Director Hillel Neuer set the record straight on the UNHRC.

"You know, when most people hear the words ‘UN Human Rights Council,’ they imagine in their minds men wearing long white beards, dressed in white robes strolling along Mt. Olympus, basing their decisions on facts, logic, and morality, when nothing could be further from the truth," Neuer said.

"Sitting around the table at the UN Human Rights Council across the street are not Aristotle, Socrates, or Plato, rather many of the world’s worst violators of human rights. They use their membership as a false badge of international legitimacy to gain impunity for their records of abuse."

HEAD OF UN WATCHDOG SAYS UNRWA HIRED PEOPLE 'WHO WERE SUPPORTING TERRORISM'

While several dissidents had the chance to tell their stories, there were many who did not. The friends and family of dissidents and activists spoke, and local students told stories of those who were not present. The summit used empty chairs to represent the absent dissidents.

The UN agency has 47 member states that serve for three years at a time. Dissidents from four current UNHRC member states — Sudan, Cuba, Vietnam and China — told harrowing stories of taking on who Neuer calls "the world’s worst abusers."

Times Wang, a human rights attorney based in the U.S., spoke about his father’s imprisonment in China. Dr. Wang Bingzhang, who was kidnapped by Chinese authorities in 2002, is the longest imprisoned Chinese political dissident. He remains in solitary confinement to this day.

Additionally, Sebastien Lai, the son of Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai, spoke about his father’s detainment by Chinese authorities, which began in 2020. Apple Daily was Hong Kong’s largest newspaper until 2021, when it was forcibly shut down. If convicted, Jimmy Lai could be sentenced to life in prison. He is currently in solitary confinement and has had multiple appeals rejected.

UN HALTS HUMANITARIAN WORK IN YEMEN'S HOUTHI STRONGHOLD AFTER STAFF DETENTIONS

The summit also featured dissidents from former member states, including Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Eritrea, Afghanistan and Russia.

"Good people in democratic nations when they join their efforts, when they stand together, when they work together, are stronger than dictatorship can ever hope to be," Vladimir Kara-Murza told the summit.

Kara-Murza, a Russian pro-democracy activist, was jailed in April 2022 for speaking out against the war in Ukraine. He was released in August 2024. Prior to his recent imprisonment, Kara-Murza survived two poisoning attempts at the hands of Russia.

Human rights activist and outspoken critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Garry Kas expressed little faith in the UN. He asserts that "the rot runs so deep" that the international community is "approaching the question" of replacing the institution, "rather than merely reforming it."

In his keynote address, Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi demanded the world act to take down the Islamic Republic regime. 

"What is caused by the Islamic Republic, can be solved by its removal," Pahlavi said.

Pahlavi also spoke about Iranian women's fight for freedom, noting it went beyond the hijab requirement. He says their fight is "not about a piece of cloth. It is about reclaiming their equality and their country."

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UNHRC did not immediately respond to Fox News’ request for comment.

While the 58th session of the UNHRC is still days away, there are several topics of discussion listed on its website. China, Sudan, Cuba, Vietnam and the other members will have the chance to weigh in on "early warning and genocide prevention," "the question of the death penalty," and "the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination," among other topics.

President Donald Trump recently pulled the U.S. out of UNHRC, something he also did in his first term. In his 2025 executive order on withdrawing from UNHRC, Trump expresses similar sentiments to Neuer, saying that "UNHRC has protected human rights abusers by allowing them to use the organization to shield themselves from scrutiny."

Pope Francis is alert and was able to get out of bed for breakfast, despite remaining hospitalized for seven days because of a bout of pneumonia, Vatican News reported.

After breakfast, the pope reportedly read newspapers and did some work before receiving the Eucharist ahead of lunch. Medical staff have apparently seen a "slight improvement," according to Vatican News.

POPE FRANCIS’ MEDICAL CONDITION: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT BILATERAL PNEUMONIA

Pope Francis, who is 88 years old, was originally hospitalized on Feb. 14 for bronchitis and was later diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia. He is still undergoing treatment at Rome's Gemelli Hospital.

"The polymicrobial infection, which arose on a picture of bronchiectasis and asthmatiforme bronchitis, and which required the use of antibiotic cortisone therapy, makes the therapeutic treatment more complex," the Vatican said in a statement on Wednesday.

POPE FRANCIS DIAGNOSED WITH BILATERAL PNEUMONIA, VATICAN SAYS

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited the Pope on Wednesday and said he was "alert and responsive," according to Vatican News. She also reportedly said that the pope was joking with her and did not show any signs of losing his sense of humor.

Pope Francis has suffered from respiratory issues for many years. When he was 21, he had part of his lung removed after developing pleurisy, which is an inflammation of the membranes that cushion the lungs.

The pontiff also fell in December and in January. After the second fall, which occurred at his residence, Pope Francis’ arm was put in a sling to immobilize it. The Vatican said at the time that this was done as "a precautionary measure."

Fox News' Melissa Rudy and Angelica Stabile contributed to this report.

Hamas has turned over the bodies of four slain Israeli hostages more than 500 days after the terrorist group's Oct. 7, 2023, attack in Israel.

Hamas said the bodies would include Shiri Bibas and her two toddlers, Ariel and Kfir, as well as Oded Lifshitz, a retired journalist and activist. Their identities will be confirmed in Israel, which could take up to 48 hours.

At the time of their kidnapping, Shiri was 32 years old, Ariel was 4 years old and Kfir was 9 months old. Their father, Yarden, was also kidnapped by Hamas, but survived and was released on Feb. 1.

Lifshitz, a retired journalist and activist, was 83 years old when he and his then 85-year-old wife, Yocheved, were kidnapped from their home. She was released on Oct. 23, 2023.

FATHER OF HAMAS’ YOUNGEST HOSTAGES IS RELEASED — BUT HIS FAMILY REMAINS IN HAMAS CAPTIVITY

The transfer took place in front of a large crowd near Khan Younis at around 9 a.m. local time on Thursday. The crowd was reportedly cheering when Hamas arrived carrying four black coffins in four separate cars.

"As the bodies of four Israeli hostages are transferred by Hamas to the Red Cross, hundreds of ‘innocent Gazans’ dance to music, and happily film this tragic event," Israel's Government Press Office wrote on X. "Speechless doesn’t begin to describe how this makes us feel."

The coffins were later transferred to a Red Cross car, which took them to Israeli forces inside the Gaza Strip.

HAMAS FREES 3 MORE HOSTAGES IN EXCHANGE FOR MORE THAN 300 PRISONERS AS PART OF CEASEFIRE DEAL WITH ISRAEL

Israeli President Issac Herzog said in a statement "there are no words" to describe the transfer that took place.

"Agony. Pain. There are no words. Our hearts — the hearts of an entire nation — lie in tatters," he wrote on X. "On behalf of the State of Israel, I bow my head and ask for forgiveness. Forgiveness for not protecting you on that terrible day. Forgiveness for not bringing you home safely. May their memory be a blessing."

This release is the first one involving the transfer of slain hostages since the ceasefire deal went into effect last month.

The next transfer is scheduled to take place on Saturday where Hamas will release six living hostages.

About 70 hostages remain in Hamas custody. Nearly all the remaining hostages, including Israeli soldiers, are men and about half are believed to be dead.

This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.

Two British nationals detained in Iran have been charged with espionage after they allegedly gathered information in different parts of the country, the Iranian judiciary's Mizan news agency reported on Tuesday.

IRAN EXECUTES OVER 1K PRISONERS IN 2024, HIGHEST TOTAL IN 30 YEARS, REPORT SAYS

The two were named as Craig and Lindsay Foreman, and their family said on Saturday they were engaging with relevant authorities to ensure the pair's well-being and safe return home.

"The detained individuals entered the country as tourists and collected information in several provinces of the country," Mizan said, without giving further details. British media have said they are a married couple.

Mizan cited a judicial official as saying the two were connected to intelligence services and that investigations into the alleged links were ongoing.

The British Foreign Office said in a statement on Tuesday that it was deeply concerned by the reports, and that it continued to raise the case directly with Iranian authorities.

"We are providing them (the two British nationals) with consular assistance and remain in close contact with their family members," the Foreign Office added.

Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards have arrested dozens of foreigners and dual nationals in recent years, mostly on espionage and security-related charges.

Human rights groups and some Western countries have accused Iran of trying to win concessions from other nations through arrests on security charges that may have been trumped up. Tehran denies such accusations.

Pope Francis showed a slight improvement while battling pneumonia on Wednesday and received a visit from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who said he was "alert and responsive" and full of good humor as he battles a case of pneumonia.

Meloni said she wanted to wish Francis well on behalf of the Italian government and the nation. She spent 20 minutes with the pope, the Vatican said. 

"We joked around as always. He has not lost his proverbial sense of humor," she said in a statement.

POPE FRANCIS KICKS OFF HOLY YEAR AT VATICAN WITH OVER 32 MILLION VISITORS EXPECTED

Beyond his team, Meloni is the first outsider to visit Francis since he's been hospitalized at Rome's Gemelli hospital, where popes have their own suite on the 10th floor. 

Francis showed slight improvement Wednesday, the Vatican said. 

The clinical conditions of the Holy Father are stable, the Vatican said in a statement. "Blood tests, evaluated by the medical staff, show a slight improvement, in particular the inflammatory indices."

POPE FRANCIS INJURED AS VATICAN CONFIRMS 2ND FALL IN MATTER OF WEEKS

After breakfast, Francis read some newspapers and then devoted himself to work activities with his closest collaborators. Before lunch, he received the Eucharist. 

On Wednesday, Francis' vicar for Rome urged his followers to silently pray for an hour for the pope before evening vespers services. 

Some visitors to the hospital lit a candle in his honor.

"I think many people are disappointed but I think more importantly we really have to pray for his health," said Sister Charlene, a nun from Singapore who was in the piazza.

The pope is no stranger to health struggles. At the age of 21, he had part of his lung removed after developing pleurisy, which is an inflammation of the membranes that cushion the lungs.

Pope Francis has struggled with multiple health battles over the last few years, including surgeries in 2021 and 2023, as well as long-standing knee issues, which have resulted in his using a wheelchair.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

The Israeli government has received confirmation on the identities of the deceased hostages due to be released from Gaza on Thursday.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum Headquarters confirmed the names of Shiri Bibas and her two children, as well as Oded Lifshitz, a journalist and peace activist. All four were murdered while in Hamas custody.

"We received the heart-shattering news that Shiri Bibas, her children Ariel and Kfir, and Oded Lifshitz are no longer with us. This news cuts like a knife through our hearts, the families’ hearts and the hearts of people all over the world," the organization wrote.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed that they received the list of deceased hostages on Wednesday.

This is a developing story. Check back soon for updates.

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni visited Pope Francis in hospital Wednesday and reported he was "alert and responsive" and full of good humor, despite his diagnosis of pneumonia and a complicated bronchial infection that has sidelined the 88-year-old pontiff for six days.

Meloni said she wanted to bring get-well wishes to the pope on behalf of the government and the entire nation. "We joked around as always. He has not lost his proverbial sense of humor," she said in a statement issued by her office.

Meloni's visit marked the first confirmed outside visitor known to have called on the pope, beyond his secretaries and medical team, since his admission Friday at Rome's Gemelli hospital, where popes have their own suite on the 10th floor.

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The Vatican has said Francis, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, was up, eating and had gotten out of bed after a tranquil night, a day after tests confirmed he had pneumonia in both lungs on top of asthmatic bronchitis.

On Wednesday, Francis' vicar for Rome urged all the faithful to devote an hour of silent prayer for the pope before evening vespers services, and pilgrims who had planned to attend his weekly general audience came to St. Peter's Square anyway to offer a prayer after it was canceled.

"I think many people are disappointed, but I think more importantly we really have to pray for his health," said Sister Charlene, a nun from Singapore who was in the piazza.

Francis was admitted to the Gemelli hospital on Friday after a weeklong bout of bronchitis worsened. On Monday, medical personnel determined that he was suffering from a polymicrobial respiratory tract infection, meaning a mix of viruses, bacteria and possibly other organisms had colonized his respiratory tract. Late Tuesday, the Vatican said a chest CT scan showed the onset of bilateral pneumonia on top of asthmatic bronchitis, which is being treated with cortisone and antibiotics.

Bronchitis can lead to pneumonia, which is a deeper and far more serious infection of the lungs’ air sacs. Pneumonia can develop in part or all of one lung or in both lungs. It tends to be more serious when both lungs are affected because there isn’t healthy tissue to compensate.

Treatment varies by severity but can include providing oxygen through a nasal tube or mask, intravenous fluids and treatment of the underlying cause of the infection. To date, Francis is breathing on his own and his heart function is said to be good. He has eaten breakfast every day, gotten out of bed, read the newspapers and done some work from his hospital room.

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"Pope Francis is a strong man who does not let difficulties get him down," said the Rev. Enzo Fortunato, who heads a new Vatican committee on children. The fact that Francis is keeping up with his ordinary routine, including receiving the Eucharist, "is a sign of a man who wants to experience the ordinariness of illness in the hospital."

The Vatican hasn't provided any information about how Francis is responding to any of the drugs he has been given other than to say he isn't running a fever. The Argentine pope, who has previously admitted to being a non-compliant patient, has a number of conditions that make him particularly at risk for complications: Aside from his age, he is not physically active and uses a wheelchair, limiting his ability to clear the fluids building up in his lungs.

Dr. Meredith McCormack, director of pulmonary and critical care medicine at Johns Hopkins University, said doctors will be looking to see if Francis responds to the therapy, which can include physiotherapy to help clear the lungs. Severe cases of pneumonia are typically treated for about one to two weeks, but recovery in an older person could extend beyond that.

"Lack of worsening would be an encouraging sign," said McCormack, who is not involved in Francis' care.

The Vatican has given no indication of how long the pope might remain hospitalized, only saying that the treatment of such a "complex clinical picture" would require an "adequate" stay.

Despite the less than positive news about Francis' condition, Francis was receiving get-well drawings and cards from children being treated in the hospital's oncology ward. And at the Vatican on Wednesday, Holy Year pilgrimages continued, with groups of faithful walking through the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica on a chilly and cloudy day.

"We are very happy to be here but we are also sad for the pope’s sickness," said Amparo Alcala’, who was leading a large group of pilgrims from Valencia, Spain. "He is doing great things, most of all for the women in the church, and this gives us a lot of joy. We are praying for his recovery and that he might come back, if this is God’s will."

A group of South Korean pilgrims in traditional costumes had planned to attend Francis' weekly Wednesday general audience and show off their national dress, as pilgrims often do for the pope's weekly appointment. When it was canceled, they came anyway.

"The Lunar New Year was very recent so we also wanted to bow traditionally and formally in front of him," said Junhee Christina Kim, a pilgrim from Seoul, South Korea. "It was too good of a chance to pass up, so we came anyway so that we can be in the Vatican in our traditional costumes."

EXCLUSIVE: President Donald Trump’s second term in office presents a historic chance to reverse the Biden administration’s failed Iran policies and prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons, a new report from the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies (FDD) argues.

The report, titled "Detecting and Halting an Iranian Weaponization Effort," argues that the president should immediately muster the full weight of the U.S. national security establishment to confront this urgent threat.

"The president made the right call in re-imposing maximum pressure. Now, he needs to ensure Iran can't dash to nuclear weapons, drawing on the short timeline and technical know-how it possesses," Andrea Stricker, author of the FDD report, told Fox News Digital.

A WEAKENED IRAN HAS IRAQ LOOKING TO CURB TEHRAN-BACKED EXTREMISTS IN COUNTRY

"A nuclear-armed Iran would fundamentally upend security in the region and hinder the ability of the United States, Israel, and their partners to counter Tehran's aggression out of fear of nuclear escalation," she said.

Srickler believes President Trump absolutely cannot tolerate a nuclear-armed Iran and must use all instruments of American power to stop this.

The FDD report recommends that the administration and allies should re-establish the threat of credible military force to deter Iran from breaking the nuclear threshold and, along with Israel, be prepared to target Iranian nuclear sites.

"The United States or Israel should demonstrate their ability to eliminate any detected Iranian weaponization facilities and activities."

U.S. intelligence learned recently that a secret team of Iranian scientists are working on a short-cut to the country’s path to develop a nuclear weapon. The revelations come as Iran’s position in the region has significantly weakened as Tehran became embroiled in conflict with Israel after Oct. 7. 

TRUMP CALLS FOR 'NUCLEAR PEACE AGREEMENT' WITH IRAN RATHER THAN BLOWING COUNTRY 'TO SMITHEREENS'

Then-President Joe Biden allowed Tehran’s nuclear program to progress largely unimpeded, the report said, and Iran now likely has the capability and know-how to produce nuclear weapons. Although Iran may lack confidence in the functionality of certain components, it may be able to detonate a crude nuclear device within six months from starting. 

"An advancing Iranian weaponization capability, matched with Tehran’s enrichment of uranium to near-weapons-grade, limits the window of time in which the United States and its allies could intervene to stop an Iranian dash to nuclear weapons, known as a breakout," the report notes.

In a sign of the administration’s toughening position on Iran, Trump signed a memorandum reimposing the "maximum pressure" policy, a hallmark of his first term administration’s crippling sanctions on Tehran.

It is "in the national interest to impose maximum pressure on the Iranian regime to end its nuclear threat, curtail its ballistic missile program, and stop its support for terrorist groups," the president’s executive order read.

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Trump withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, also known as the Iran nuclear deal, during his first term in 2018 and reapplied harsh economic sanctions. The Biden administration had initially looked at re-engaging with Iran on the nuclear issue upon taking office, but on-again-off-again talks went nowhere, complicated by Iran’s domestic politics and Iran’s role in supporting its terror groups in the region. 

Stricker says the clerical regime has an additional incentive to seek nuclear weapons to secure its hold on power with a more confrontational administration in Washington. It could also sprint for the bomb to bolster its offensive and defensive capabilities to deter further Israeli strikes against the regime itself, she warned.

In addition to the military threat, the report recommends the U.S. and Israel should cooperate on intelligence-related operations to detect and disrupt Iranian weaponization. It also suggests that the U.S. and Israel should work toward identifying key Iranian officials and nuclear scientists and to cultivate them as human intelligence sources. 

It additionally encourages the U.S. and other nations to urgently mobilize the International Atomic Energy Agency to strengthen inspections of weaponization activities in Iran.

A November 2024 report from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence said that Iran has enough fissile material to produce over a dozen nuclear weapons if it continues to enrich uranium. 

A top European Union official is warning President Donald Trump against letting Russian President Vladimir Putin succeed in dividing a decades-old alliance between the U.S. and Europe as Trump seeks to bring an end to the war in Ukraine. 

"It is clear that any deal on Ukraine that doesn’t involve Europe will fail," EU policy chief Kaja Kallas told Fox News Digital from South Africa. "Europe and the U.S. are stronger together, this is exactly why Putin is trying to divide us. 

"Let's not do him the favor," she added. 

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Kallas' comments came after she held a call with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the foreign ministers of France, the U.K., Italy and Germany on Tuesday night to discuss the U.S. talks with Russian in Saudi Arabia, in which Washington agreed to re-establish diplomatic ties with Moscow through reopening embassies and re-engaging geopolitically and economically.  

Concern in Europe has been mounting over the Trump administration’s push to find a solution to end the war in Ukraine, as neither Kyiv nor any European official has yet been present for the discussions. 

"When they say ‘these are our plans for the end of the war,’ it raises questions for us," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told reporters from Turkey on Wednesday following a meeting with Turkish President Recep Erdoğan. "Where are we at this negotiating table? This war is taking place inside Ukraine. Putin is killing Ukrainians, not Americans."

"We want a just peace, a lasting peace, a sustainable peace," he added.

While Rubio looked to set the record straight following the talks on Tuesday by agreeing that Ukraine, Europe and Russia will need to be involved in any ceasefire terms, some comments by Trump have prompted frustration in Kyiv and concern across Europe.

"We need American strength not concessions to end this war on Ukraine’s terms," Kallas told Fox News Digital. "Handing Ukrainian territory to Putin on a plate is a losing strategy."

RUBIO MAKES PROGRESS WITH RUSSIA AFTER TRUMP PROMISED TO BRING END TO WAR IN UKRAINE

Kallas, along with other European leaders, took issue this week when Trump said Ukraine needs to hold presidential elections – something that Ukraine constitutionally cannot do during a state of war.

"Elections in Ukraine are impossible amid Russia’s daily attacks, which have displaced millions of Ukrainians," Kallas said. "Let’s not forget Russia hasn’t held a free election in 25 years."

Kallas, who told Fox News Digital that she has submitted a proposal that would see EU nations ramp up military aid to Ukraine this year, argued, "Kyiv must be able to negotiate from a place of strength."

Reports indicated that European leaders were set to hold a second emergency summit on Ukraine in Paris on Wednesday after a smaller group of leaders from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, Denmark and the U.K. reportedly convened on Monday following the Munich Security Conference.

Despite concerns that Putin could be dividing the West, one former DIA intelligence officer and author of "Putin's Playbook," Rebekah Koffler, argued the Trump administration’s strategy on ending the war is not an indication the U.S. is abandoning its allies.

"The U.S. is not turning against Europe," she said. "NATO had 10 years, a decade to prepare for and deter this war."

"In the course of several years, my colleagues and I briefed senior military and intelligence officials of top European nations on the Russian threat. In vain," Koffler said, noting that she and her American intelligence colleagues warned European nations in 2013 ahead of Russia’s invasion of Crimea in 2014. "NATO ignored the threat for a decade and did not bother to develop a counter-strategy to Putin’s Playbook.

"Trump is handing over the responsibility for Europe’s protection to the Europeans," she added, noting the West was already divided given some NATO nations' failures to meet defense spending agreements. 

Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi is calling for global action to defeat the Islamic Republic’s regime. Pahlavi says the regime is "weaker than it has ever been" and the people of Iran are ready to take back their "stolen country."

Pahlavi spoke at the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on Tuesday, highlighting the plight of the Iranian people, calling the country a "nation in chains," and the oppressive nature of the Islamic Republic regime headed by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

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"The Iranian people have endured more than four decades of suffering, yet their spirit remains unbroken," Pahlavi said, becoming visibly emotional. "They are fighting not just for themselves but for the values of freedom, justice, and human dignity."

Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the crown prince’s father, saw his government fall in 1979, forcing his family to flee as Islamists took power. The crown prince lives in exile until this day, unable to return to his home country of Iran.

The strategy for rebuilding Iran that Pahlavi outlined in his speech included pressuring G20 governments to apply "maximum pressure" on the regime, while giving the Iranian people "maximum support."

In his impassioned call to action, Pahlavi spoke about those inside his home country who are fighting to remove the Islamic regime, particularly the Iranian women.

"Iranian women are not just fighting against the forced hijab. Their struggle is not about a piece of cloth. It is about reclaiming their equality and their country," Pahlavi said to the cheering crowd.

Throughout his address, Pahlavi repeatedly expressed his love for Iran and its culture, which he says the current regime is trying to erase.

"We are not just fighting against the Islamic Republic. We are fighting for Iran," Pahlavi said.

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Pahlavi also slammed the Islamic Republic’s use of embassies and cultural centers to target dissidents abroad. This tactic was thrust into the spotlight with the regime’s alleged targeting of President Donald Trump and its plot to kill New York-based Iranian journalist Masih Alinejad, a fierce critic of the regime in Teheran.

"Whatever I do, it seems that hurts the Islamic Republic very bad, and that's why they want me dead," Alinejad said during an appearance on "The Story" in November 2024. "I don't want to die. I want to fight against tyranny. I want to fight against this regime, and I want to be alive to see the end of this regime."

Upon Trump’s inauguration, Pahlavi wrote a letter to the president asking him to facilitate what he calls the "Cyrus Accords." Pahlavi believes Trump can "transform the Middle East and the world" through a new agreement similar to the Abraham Accords, except the Cyrus Accords would include a "free Iran."

The Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy, where Pahlavi spoke on Tuesday, is held annually around the time of the UN Human Rights Council session. Dissidents, activists and more are given a platform at the summit to speak against human rights abuses and undemocratic practices taking place across the globe.

Marine experts have given up hope of rescuing more than 150 false killer whales that stranded on a remote beach on Australia’s island state of Tasmania, officials said on Wednesday.

Experts including veterinarians were at the scene near the Arthur River on Tasmania’s northwestern coast where 157 whales were discovered on an exposed surf beach on Tuesday afternoon, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment said.

Unfavorable ocean and weather conditions, which prevented the whales from being rescued on Wednesday, were forecast to persist for days, incident controller Shelley Graham said.

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"We have been out in the water this morning and have relocated and attempted to refloat two whales but didn’t have success as the ocean conditions weren’t allowing the animals to get past the break. The animals are continuously restranding," Graham said in a statement.

Marine biologist Kris Carlyon said the survivors would be euthanized.

"The longer these animals are out stranded, the longer they are suffering. All alternative options have been unsuccessful," Carlyon said.

The department said there were 136 survivors on Wednesday morning but that assessment was revised down to 90 within a few hours.

The inaccessibility of the beach, ocean conditions and challenges to getting specialist equipment to the remote area complicated the response.

The young whales weighed as little as 1,100 pounds, while the adults weighed 3.3 tons. Despite their name, false killer whales are one of the largest members of the dolphin family.

Department liaison officer Brendon Clark said the stranding was the first by false killer whales in Tasmania since 1974. That was a pod of more than 160 whales that landed on a beach near Stanley on the northwest coast. Strandings in Tasmania are usually pilot whales.

Clark declined to speculate on why the latest pod might have stranded. Carcasses of dead whales would be examined for clues, he said.

A helicopter reconnaissance on Tuesday afternoon determined that there were no other whales within 6 miles of the stranded pod, he said.

Some could have been stranded for as long as 48 hours by early Wednesday.

Arthur River resident Jocelyn Flint said her son had discovered the stranded whales around midnight while fishing for shark.

She said she had gone to the scene in the dark hours of the morning and returned after dawn, but the whales were too big to be refloated.

"The water was surging right up and they were thrashing. They’re just dying, they’ve sunk down in the sand," Flint said Wednesday morning. "I think it’s too late.

"There are little babies. Up one end, there’s a lot of big ones. It’s sad," she added.

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In 2022, 230 pilot whales stranded further south on the west coast at Macquarie Harbor.

The largest mass stranding in Australian history occurred in the same harbor in 2020 when 470 long-finned pilot whales became stuck on sandbars. Most of the beached whales died on both occasions.

The reasons for the beachings are unclear. Reasons could include disorientation caused by loud noises, illness, old age, injury, fleeing predators and severe weather.