Abdelrahman
In a recent address, Khalil al-Hayya, the lead negotiator for Hamas, announced that militants plan to return the remains of four Israeli hostages to Israel on Thursday. This transfer is intended to facilitate the release of Palestinian prisoners.
During his speech, al-Hayya noted that the Bibas family, whose members have gained significant international recognition as hostages, would be included among those returning. However, he did not specify the total number of remains to be handed over. The remaining Bibas family members in Gaza are Shiri Bibas and her two children.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office has verified that the remains of four Israelis will be returned on Thursday, though officials declined to comment on whether members of the Bibas family are among them. While the Israeli military previously expressed serious concerns regarding the safety of Ms. Bibas and her children, they have not confirmed their deaths.
For many in Israel, the plight of the Bibas family serves as a poignant reminder of the violence stemming from the Hamas-led assault on October 7, 2023.
Shiri Bibas was taken by armed militants into Gaza along with her two young children: 4-year-old Ariel and her infant son, Kfir, who was just under nine months old. Yarden Bibas, Shiri’s husband and the father of the children, was also abducted during this incident, sustaining severe injuries from a head injury inflicted by an attacker. Yarden was released from captivity earlier in February.
