Hamas announced on Thursday that it has returned the remains of four Israelis, including a woman and her two young children, who were abducted during the attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. This exchange was part of a deal involving Palestinian prisoners.

In the southern Gazan city of Khan Younis, large crowds gathered to witness the orchestrated handover by Hamas. Armed gunmen surrounded a stage displaying four black coffins, each adorned with a photo of the deceased hostages.

Representatives from the International Committee of the Red Cross were present to place the coffins into awaiting vehicles. Following this, the Israeli government confirmed that the Red Cross had transported the bodies to Israeli forces inside Gaza.

Far from the scene, Israelis reacted with horror and sorrow. Hamas identified the deceased hostages as Shiri Bibas, aged 32, along with her young children Ariel, four, and nine-month-old Kfir. Also among the deceased was Oded Lifshitz, aged 84. Their bodies are set to undergo forensic analysis in Israel to verify their identities.

These four individuals were taken during the attack that left approximately 1,200 people dead and around 250 others taken hostage, according to Israeli reports. The abduction of Ms. Bibas and her children resonated deeply with many Israelis, highlighting the brutality of the assault.

In response, Israel initiated a substantial military campaign against Hamas in Gaza, leading to significant loss of life and widespread destruction across the area.

While details surrounding the cause of death for the four hostages remain unclear, Hamas has claimed that they perished in Israeli airstrikes. Israeli officials have yet to confirm this assertion.

In late January, an agreement was reached between Israel and Hamas to suspend hostilities for at least six weeks. As part of this agreement, Hamas committed to releasing 25 living Israeli hostages along with the remains of eight others in exchange for over 1,500 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

Since the truce, emotions have run high as families have reunited with hostages after a harrowing year spent within Hamas’s underground network, while Palestinian prisoners have been warmly welcomed back into the embrace of their loved ones, many for the first time in decades.

Hamas has utilized these hostage releases to stage elaborate ceremonies, showcasing its power in Gaza, often including armed personnel and sometimes compelling released hostages to deliver speeches from makeshift podiums.

Reporting by Rawan Sheikh Ahmad from Haifa, Israel.

Source link