Hamas has handed over the remains of four Israeli hostages, including a German-Israeli mother and her two children, to the Red Cross in Gaza. Israeli forensic teams are now identifying the deceased. The families have been informed of their loss, and Chancellor Olaf Scholz has expressed condolences. As part of ongoing negotiations, Israel is expected to release women and minors detained since the Gaza War in exchange for the remains.
Hamas Transfers Remains of Hostages in Gaza
The militant group Hamas has returned the remains of four Israeli hostages to the Red Cross in the Gaza Strip, prompting Israeli forensic teams to begin the identification process. Among those deceased is reportedly a German-Israeli woman along with her two young children.
According to reports from Hamas and Israeli media, the bodies include a mother and her two small children, all of whom are believed to hold German citizenship, along with an elderly man. The Israeli military has since received the coffins as part of this handover.
Impact on Families and National Sentiment
Late on Wednesday, the forum representing hostage families shared the devastating news that Shiri Bibas and her children, Ariel and Kfir, as well as Oded Lifshitz, have tragically passed away. The Bibas family has stated that they will await official confirmation of the identities before publicly mourning their loss.
Kfir and Ariel Bibas were the last children still held captive by Hamas, having been abducted from the Nir Oz kibbutz over 16 months ago. At that time, Kfir was only nine months old, while Ariel was four. The only family member released previously was their father, Jarden Bibas, who was freed two and a half weeks ago, while the rest remained imprisoned and separated.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz extended his condolences to the grieving family, acknowledging the heartbreaking reality of their abduction. He expressed his sympathy for all those affected by this tragedy through a post on the social media platform X.
As part of a broader negotiation, six additional hostages are expected to be released back to Israel soon, following the transfer of deceased individuals.
The identification of the remains is being conducted at a forensic institute near Tel Aviv, where experts will work to confirm identities and ascertain the causes of death. This process may vary in duration depending on the condition of the remains.
During the handover, Hamas displayed four black coffins on a stage, with a backdrop featuring controversial imagery of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The International Committee of the Red Cross took measures to ensure a more dignified handover by covering some of the propaganda with white cloths.
In a heartfelt statement, Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed deep sorrow and asked for forgiveness on behalf of the nation, acknowledging the pain experienced by the hostages and their families. He emphasized the collective heartbreak felt across Israel for not being able to protect them during their ordeal.
In a reciprocal arrangement, Israel is expected to release all women and minors detained since the onset of the Gaza War, provided they have not participated in combat against Israel. This exchange is part of the ongoing ceasefire discussions between Israel and Hamas.