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Israel Receives Bodies of Four Hostages, Including Bibas Family, from Hamas

The remains of two young children, their mother, and an elderly man were returned as part of a truce agreement, prompting national mourning and criticism of leadership.

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Des Israéliens attendent le convoi transportant les corps des otages Oded Lifschitz, Shiri Bibas et ses deux enfants, Kfir et Ariel Bibas, enlevés le 7 octobre 2023 par le Hamas.
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Le Hamas se prépare à remettre les dépouilles de quatre otages à Israël, dont celles des enfants Bibas

Overview

  • The bodies of Ariel and Kfir Bibas, aged 4 years and 9 months at the time of their abduction, their mother Shiri Bibas, and 83-year-old Oded Lifshitz were handed over to Israel by Hamas on February 20, 2025.
  • The return of the bodies occurred under a truce agreement that also includes the release of Palestinian detainees by Israel and further hostage exchanges in the coming days.
  • The Bibas family and Lifshitz had been abducted during the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, an event that left over 1,200 Israelis dead and sparked a prolonged conflict.
  • Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed deep sorrow, with Herzog publicly apologizing for the state's failure to protect the hostages.
  • The deaths of the Bibas family were previously claimed by Hamas to have resulted from Israeli airstrikes, but Israel has not confirmed this, and identification of the remains is ongoing.