The mother of two young boys murdered by Hamas terrorists while in captivity was not among the bodies returned to Israel on Thursday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said. Before the return of the remains of the four slain hostages, Hamas said the bodies would include Shiri Bibas and her two toddlers, Ariel and Kfir, ages 4 and 10 months, as well as Oded Lifshitz, a retired journalist and activist. However, Israel's National Institute of Forensic Medicine could only determine the identity of two of the bodies, the young boys.
"During the identification process, it was determined that the additional body received is not that of Shiri Bibas, and no match was found for any other hostage," the IDF said. "This is an anonymous, unidentified body." According to the assessment of professional officials, based on the intelligence available to us and forensic findings from the identification process, Ariel and Kfir Bibas were brutally murdered by terrorists in captivity in November 2023," authorities said.
The family became symbols of the ordeal that has gripped Israel since the war in Gaza began. "We extend our heartfelt condolences to the Bibas family during this incredibly difficult time and remain committed to doing everything possible to ensure Shiri and all the hostages are brought home at the earliest opportunity," the IDF said. It called the deaths a "violation of utmost severity" by Hamas, while also demanding the terror group return the body of Shiri Bibas and all other hostages being held captive.
The young boys and their mother were abducted in their home by Hamas terrorists during the terror group's deadly Oct. 7, 2023 attack. Yarden Bibas, Ariel and Kfir's father, tried to protect them and was abducted prior to the kidnapping of his wife and children, the IDF said. Yarden returned as part of the agreement for the return of the hostages on Feb. 1. Thursday's release is the first one involving the transfer of slain hostages since the ceasefire deal went into effect last month.
About 70 hostages remain in Hamas custody. Nearly all the remaining hostages, including Israeli soldiers, are men and about half are believed to be dead.
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