Hamas Set To Hand Over Bodies Of Four Israeli Hostages

AFP/APP

Khan Yunis: Hamas is set to hand over the bodies of four Israeli hostages, including those of Shiri Bibas and her two young sons, Kfir and Ariel, as well as Oded Lifshitz, an 83-year-old man.

The transfer will take place on Thursday in Khan Yunis, Gaza, under a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. This marks the first return of bodies since Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which sparked the ongoing conflict.

The Bibas family, who were captured by Hamas during the attack, have become symbols of the emotional toll the war has inflicted on Israel.

Footage of their abduction, filmed by Hamas, was widely shared. The family had hoped for confirmation of the deaths through official channels. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Thursday as a “very difficult day” for the country, highlighting the grief surrounding the handover.

Since the ceasefire began on January 19, a number of hostages have been exchanged in return for Palestinian prisoners, though the Bibas family’s fate remained uncertain until now. The identification of the bodies will be carried out by Israeli authorities.