Amid the ceasefire releases that began on January 19, Hamas recently displayed the bodies of hostages in Khan Younis in a public demonstration on Tuesday. Four coffins were placed on stage, each accompanied by a photograph of the deceased. Below the coffins, there was a picture of Netanyahu, with Hamas blaming him for the deaths of these hostages.
The 4 Coffins
Four coffins were to be handed over to the Red Cross. The photos on the coffins revealed that the hostages were members of the Israeli Bibas family, including mother Shiri Bibas and her two sons, Kfir and Ariel, aged 9 months and 5 years, making them the youngest hostages held by Hamas. Another coffin has been identified as belonging to Oded Lifshitz, an 83-year-old journalist and peace activist who was abducted by Hamas. His wife, Yocheved, was freed in November as part of a temporary ceasefire agreement.
The Bibas family members were abducted on October 7, 2023. The youngest hostage was just 9 months old, and his 4-year-old brother, Ariel, was known for his love for Batman and playing with tractors in the garden, according to a video on X.
The Bibas family was abducted by Hamas; however, father Yarden Bibas was returned alive on February 1. Hamas claimed that the Israeli airstrike killed the other three family members.
The Tragic Handover
On Thursday morning, the stage was set with loud music, the coffins were put on a stage with posters of hostages where Kfir was displayed with a wide toothless grin, Ariel with a white shirt, and Shiri Bibas smiling, Lifshitz also with a smile, the masked militant on stage has interchanged the name of ariel and Kfir on the coffin with their respective remains.
Shiri’s coffin noted the date of her arrest along with that of her two children. Their coffins were marked with October 7the date when they were violently taken by Hamas. Additionally, two missiles were placed next to the coffins, with the text “They were killed by USA bombs,” according to the New York Post.
The poster of Netanyahu was depicted with blood on his face, the Hamas fighter carried the coffins and handed them to the Red Cross. The Red Cross committee held up white screens to conceal the coffins from the crowd’s gaze and loaded them into the vehicle. They issued a statement saying, “These operations should be done privately out of the utmost respect for the deceased and for those left grieving,”
The Identification
As the bodies were returned, Prime Ministers confirmed the transfer of the remains to the Military and Medicine Department for identification. During this process, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) discovered that the remains of Shiri Bibas were not returned by Hamas, according to a statement they issued, “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. This is an anonymous, unidentified body.”
Country’s Grief
“Every home in Israel bows its head today. We bow our heads for the heavy loss of our four hostages, The four coffins of our loved ones oblige us more than ever to promise, to swear, that what happened on October 7 will never happen again.” Netanyahu gave a statement.
Relatives of the Bibas family held on to the hope of identification, expressing their desire to wait for the process to be completed before acknowledging the deaths of their loved ones. A popular children’s song was written in honor of the Bibas children, and supporters wore orange clothing to show solidarity with the family, referencing the red hair of the Bibas kids.
The family of Journalist Lifshitz said, “We had hoped and prayed so much for a different outcome. Now we can mourn the husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather who has been missing from us since October 7, the healing process will begin now and will not end until the last hostage is returned.”
The Israelis recently marked the release of 25 hostages who are alive. However, the broadcast did not feature the return of the deceased; instead, images of them were shown in a montage, highlighting the somber reality of those who perished in captivity during the year-long discussions that preceded the truce.
Haripriya Mishra is a journalist deeply interested in world news and geopolitics. She likes to explore the complexities of global affairs and strives to bring clarity to these issues through thoughtful journalism. Through her writing, she intends to raise the right questions, fostering informed discussions about national and international matters. Haripriya aims to use journalism as a platform to connect with people, share diverse perspectives, and contribute to a deeper understanding of global issues. She is committed to producing content that is accurate, ethical, and impactful. She enjoys creative writing and reflecting on the nuances of media and storytelling.
Comments