Mohamed Garba
In a significant development under the current ceasefire agreement, Hamas has handed over the bodies of four Israeli hostages to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Gaza. The victims include Shiri Bibas, 32, her two young sons, Ariel, 4, and Kfir, an infant, as well as 83-year-old peace activist Oded Lifschitz.
The handover took place in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, where the coffins were presented in a public ceremony before being transferred to Israeli authorities. The Bibas family had been held captive since their abduction on October 7, 2023.
The circumstances surrounding their deaths remain unclear. Hamas claims the hostages were killed in an Israeli airstrike, a statement that has not been independently verified. Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed profound sorrow, seeking forgiveness for the nation’s inability to protect its citizens and secure their safe return.
This event marks the first release of deceased hostages under the current ceasefire, which has also facilitated the exchange of living hostages and Palestinian prisoners. Negotiations are ongoing in Cairo, aiming to extend the ceasefire into a lasting truce, despite challenges from various political factions.
The return of the hostages’ bodies is a poignant reminder of the human cost of the conflict and underscores the urgency of achieving a sustainable peace in the region.
