Abdelrahman
Hamas to Transfer Bodies of Four Hostages to Israel Amid Ongoing Tensions
In a significant development, Hamas has announced plans to return the bodies of four hostages who had been detained in Gaza since the group’s October 7, 2023, assault on Israel. Among these deceased individuals are a mother and her two children from the Bibas family, whose fate has remained a pressing concern in Israel. The youngest child, Kfir, was merely nine months old at the time of their capture.
The fourth body is reported to belong to Oded Lifshitz, an 84-year-old veteran peace activist. This transfer marks a notable moment, as it will be the first instance of Hamas delivering deceased hostages since the initiation of the ceasefire last month.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed the profound sorrow of the nation, stating that “the heart of the entire nation is torn,” while emphasizing the severe nature of the ongoing conflict. On a more hopeful note, six living hostages are anticipated to be released on Saturday.
The unconfirmed reports about the deaths of 33-year-old Shiri Bibas and her two sons—who would now be ages five and two—have sparked widespread grief across Israel. The government, however, has stated it will only confirm the identities of the deceased following forensic evaluations.
The Bibas family expressed their deep distress in an official statement, indicating that they are in a state of “turmoil.” They also mentioned, “Until we receive definitive confirmation, our journey is not over.”
The logistics of how the four bodies will be handed over remain uncertain. Nevertheless, the Red Cross, which has facilitated the release of formerly living hostages by Hamas, has requested a respectful transfer process. They stated, “We must be clear: any degrading treatment during release operations is unacceptable.”
This request follows earlier scrutiny of Hamas’s methods for releasing hostages, which often involved public displays before handing them over to Red Cross officials. The circumstances surrounding the deaths of Shiri and her children remain ambiguous; Hamas previously claimed in November 2023 that they had perished during an Israeli airstrike, yet no concrete evidence has been provided. At the time, Benny Gantz, a member of Israel’s war cabinet, indicated that there were no confirmations to substantiate these claims.
The Bibas family had been seized alongside Yarden, the father, during a violent incursion by hundreds of Hamas militants into the kibbutz Nir Oz, resulting in numerous attacks on civilian populations and military posts.
The October 7 assault resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities, primarily civilians, while 251 others were taken back to Gaza as hostages. In response, Israel launched a substantial military operation against Hamas, which has led to the deaths of at least 48,297 Palestinians, predominantly non-combatants, according to statistics released by the Hamas-controlled health ministry.
Yarden Bibas, 35, was eventually released on February 1, along with two other hostages, in exchange for 183 Palestinian prisoners detained by Israeli authorities. Oded Lifshitz, formerly a journalist, was also abducted from Nir Oz, along with his wife, Yocheved, who was freed by Hamas two weeks later.
The agreement for the return of hostages’ remains was reached as part of the ceasefire arrangement that began on January 19, where Israel has confirmed the return of eight bodies. As part of this accord, both parties have agreed to exchange 33 hostages for approximately 1,900 prisoners by the end of the initial six-week ceasefire period. Discussions on advancing to the subsequent phase of this agreement—which aims for the release of all remaining living hostages and the prospect of a permanent end to hostilities—were anticipated earlier this month but have not yet commenced.
To date, 24 hostages and over 1,000 prisoners have been exchanged. Currently, there are 70 hostages taken on October 7 still held in Gaza, alongside three others captured over a decade ago. It is estimated that half of the remaining hostages in Gaza are still alive.
