Hamas Hands Over Four Israeli Bodies in Gaza

• Hamas handed over the bodies of four Israeli hostages, in Gaza on Thursday.
• The bodies being transferred to the Red Cross.
• The Bibas family, had their fate confirmed after months of uncertainty.

In a somber ceremony held in Gaza, Hamas handed over the remains of four Israeli hostages on Thursday, including those of Shiri Bibas and her two young children, Kfir and Ariel, marking the first such transfer since the October 7 attack that ignited the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel.

Eko Hot Blog reports that the handover, which occurred under a fragile ceasefire, took place in the southern Gaza city of Khan Yunis, where the bodies were delivered to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

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The ceremony was starkly political, with four black coffins displayed on a stage, each adorned with photos of the deceased.

Behind the coffins, a banner depicted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a bloodstained vampire, accompanied by mock-up missiles labeled “They were killed by USA bombs.” Armed militants stood guard as the handover unfolded, with one militant seated beside a Red Cross official to complete necessary paperwork.

The hostages’ bodies included those of Shiri Bibas, 32, and her two young sons, Kfir, who was nine months old at the time of his abduction, and Ariel, who was four.

Alongside them was Oded Lifshitz, an 83-year-old man who was also taken during the attack. The Bibas family, in particular, had become symbols of the anguish felt across Israel as their abduction was filmed by Hamas and broadcast widely.

Yarden Bibas, the father and husband of the Bibas family, was taken separately on the same day but was released in a previous exchange on February 1. The bodies’ return has deepened the grief for many families who still hope for the return of their loved ones. Prime Minister Netanyahu described Thursday as “a very difficult day” for the country, calling it a “heartbreaking day, a day of grief.”

The handover was part of a fragile ceasefire agreement that has seen the release of living hostages in exchange for Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. Since January 19, 19 Israeli hostages have been freed, while more than 1,100 Palestinian prisoners have been released. However, the situation remains precarious, with accusations of ceasefire violations from both sides.

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Israel has confirmed the deaths of several hostages, and discussions are underway for future exchanges. According to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which represents families of those taken hostage, the Bibas family’s tragic fate had been widely accepted, though formal confirmation was awaited. Meanwhile, the forensic team in Israel has been mobilized to expedite identification procedures.

With tensions still high, both sides continue to negotiate over a more permanent truce, but the road to peace remains uncertain.

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