Israel has strongly criticized Hamas for a public ceremony in Gaza where the bodies of four Israeli hostages were handed over, including those of Shiri Bibas and her two young sons. The event, held at a former cemetery in Khan Yunis, featured four black coffins displayed on a stage, each bearing a photo of the deceased. Mock missiles nearby carried the message: “They were killed by USA bombs,” referencing Israel’s primary military supplier.
This marks the first return of deceased hostages under a fragile ceasefire that had previously facilitated exchanges of living captives for Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. Hamas claims the Bibas family was killed in an Israeli airstrike early in the conflict, though Israel has not confirmed this assertion.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed outrage, stating, “We are all enraged at the monsters of Hamas,” and reiterated his commitment to dismantling the group. The United Nations also condemned the public nature of the handover, labeling it “abhorrent and cruel,” and urged that future transfers be conducted privately to respect the deceased and their grieving families.
The International Committee of the Red Cross, which has been facilitating hostage and prisoner releases, called for such handovers to be conducted privately, emphasizing the need for utmost respect for the deceased and those left grieving.
In Israel, citizens lined the route from southern Israel to Tel Aviv as the convoy carrying the bodies passed. At “Hostages Square” in Tel Aviv, thousands gathered to observe a minute’s silence in memory of the four deceased hostages. The National Institute of Forensic Medicine confirmed that one of the bodies was that of 83-year-old Oded Lifshitz, a veteran journalist and peace activist. The identification process for the other three bodies is ongoing.
This latest move by Hamas further exposes the group’s barbaric tactics, using the remains of hostages for propaganda while continuing to hold innocent Israelis captive. Despite calls for ceasefires and negotiations, Hamas has repeatedly demonstrated its unwillingness to act in good faith. Israel remains committed to securing the release of all hostages and ensuring the total defeat of the terrorist organization.
