Over 500 days after the devastating October 7, 2023 attack, Hamas has repatriated the remains of four Israeli captives. The terrorist group confirmed the return includes Shiri Bibas and her two young children, Ariel and Kfir, along with Oded Lifshitz, a retired journalist and activist. Official identification by Israeli authorities is pending and may require up to 48 hours.
At the time of the abduction, Shiri Bibas was 32, Ariel was 4, and Kfir was just 9 months old. Their father, Yarden, was also captured but thankfully survived and was released earlier this year on February 1st. Lifshitz, aged 83 at the time of his capture, was taken along with his wife, Yocheved, then 85. She was released on October 23, 2023.
L-R: Shiri Bibas, Kfir Bibas, Ariel Bibas, and Oded Lifshitz. (Hostages Family Forum via AP)
The transfer occurred Thursday morning around 9 a.m. local time near Khan Younis, witnessed by a large crowd. Reports indicate the crowd cheered as Hamas members arrived with four black coffins, each transported in a separate vehicle. The Israel Government Press Office expressed outrage on social media platform X, highlighting the stark contrast between the somber occasion and the celebratory atmosphere of the onlookers.
Palestinians and Hamas members observe the transfer of the remains of four Israeli hostages in southern Gaza on February 20, 2025. (EYAD BABA/AFP via Getty Images)
The Red Cross facilitated the transfer of the coffins to Israeli forces within the Gaza Strip. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) then conducted a brief ceremony to honor the deceased after ensuring the coffins were free of explosives or hazardous materials. A joint statement from the Israel Security Agency (ISA) and the IDF confirmed the transfer and the subsequent identification process at the National Institute of Forensic Medicine. Thousands of Israelis lined the route to the Tel Aviv institute in a silent tribute, many holding Israeli flags, as the convoy carrying the remains passed.
Israelis pay their respects along the route to the forensic institute in Tel Aviv. (Israeli Police)
Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed profound grief over the event, offering an apology on behalf of the nation for failing to protect and bring the hostages home safely.
Hamas members carry a coffin in southern Gaza. (EYAD BABA/AFP via Getty Images)
This marks the first transfer of deceased hostages since the ceasefire agreement enacted last month. A further transfer of six living hostages is anticipated on Saturday. Approximately 70 hostages, primarily Israeli soldiers, remain in Hamas captivity, with roughly half feared dead.
