Hamas released the bodies of four Israeli hostages on Thursday, including a mother and her two children, who had long been feared dead. The remains were presumed to be those of Shiri Bibas and her two sons, Ariel and Kfir, along with Oded Lifshitz, an 83-year-old abducted during the October 7, 2023, attack. The youngest victim, Kfir, was just nine months old when he was taken. Hamas claimed that all four were killed in Israeli airstrikes, along with their captors.
The return of the bodies was met with national grief across Israel. Unlike the recent return of living hostages, which brought relief, Thursday’s handover cast a somber mood over the country. Hundreds of mourners lined the highways, waving Israeli and yellow solidarity flags, as the vehicles carrying the remains passed by.
In Tel Aviv, crowds gathered in silence at Hostage Square, watching home videos of the victims. Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed the nation’s sorrow, apologizing for failing to protect them and bring them home safely.
Militants’ Display and Israel’s Grief Over Lost Hostages and Their Families
Before the bodies were transferred, militants in Gaza paraded four black coffins on a stage, surrounded by banners, including one depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a vampire. Thousands, including armed militants, watched as the coffins were loaded onto Red Cross vehicles for transport to Israel.
The Israeli military held a small funeral ceremony for the victims before sending the remains for DNA identification. Lifshitz’s family later confirmed that his body had been officially identified, expressing their sorrow over his loss.
Hamas Returns Israeli Hostages’ Bodies Amid Ceasefire Uncertainty and Ongoing Conflict in GazaThe Bibas family, who had held onto hope for months, had marked Kfir’s first and second birthdays in his absence. Supporters across Israel wore orange in solidarity with the family, referencing the boys’ red hair.
A popular children’s song was even written in their honor. Like them, Lifshitz, a journalist and peace activist, was taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz, where his wife was later freed. The hostage crisis continues to weigh heavily on Israel, as over half of the hostages taken in the October attack have either been released or recovered, though many were found dead.
Ceasefire Uncertainty Amidst Ongoing Conflict and Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
The return of the bodies marked the first of eight dead hostages expected to be repatriated under the ceasefire agreement. Hamas is set to release six more living hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and has pledged to return four more bodies next week. However, uncertainty looms over the ceasefire’s future.
Hamas insists on a permanent truce and full Israeli withdrawal before releasing the remaining hostages. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, backed by the U.S., remains committed to dismantling Hamas, making a lasting agreement difficult.
The ongoing conflict has had devastating consequences. Israel’s military campaign has killed over 48,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.
Israel claims to have eliminated 17,000 fighters. The war has displaced 90% of Gaza’s population, leaving entire neighborhoods in ruins. As negotiations for the next phase of the ceasefire remain uncertain, the humanitarian crisis continues to escalate, raising concerns about the future of both hostages and civilians caught in the conflict.