Four Hostage Bodies Repatriated to Israel Following Hamas Atrocities
After the horrific October 7th attack carried out by the Islamist terrorist organization Hamas, in which babies, women, and men were brutally murdered and numerous Israeli civilians were abducted, today saw the return of four bodies from Hamas captivity to Israel.
The released bodies belong to members of the Bibas family—mother Shiri and her two young children, Kfir and Ariel—alongside Oded Lifshitz. All were kidnapped and subjected to brutal torture at the hands of Hamas and other Islamist militias in the Gaza Strip before being executed, including the infants.
Official Statement from the Prime Minister’s Office
“Israel has – through the Red Cross – received the coffins of four deceased hostages. The coffins were transferred to an IDF force and the ISA inside the Gaza Strip, from where they will be transported to Israel, to the Health Ministry’s National Center of Forensic Medicine. The families will be officially notified upon completion of the identification process.
The families of the hostages have been updated; our hearts are with them at this difficult hour.
The public is requested to respect the privacy of the families and refrain from disseminating rumors and unofficial or baseless information.
We will continue to provide updates as necessary with reliable information.”
President Isaac Herzog Expresses the Nation’s Grief
President Isaac Herzog released an emotional statement addressing the tragedy:
“Agony. Pain. There are no words.
Our hearts — the hearts of an entire nation — lie in tatters.
On behalf of the State of Israel, I bow my head and ask for forgiveness. Forgiveness for not protecting you on that terrible day. Forgiveness for not bringing you home safely.
May their memory be a blessing.”
A Nation Mourns, a Promise to Remember
The return of the bodies marks another tragic chapter in the ongoing hostage crisis. While Israel continues its efforts to bring home all abducted citizens, the country grieves the horrific fate of the Bibas family and Oded Lifshitz. The nation stands united in sorrow and resilience, vowing never to forget.
