Terrorist group Hamas has returned the bodies of four slain Israeli hostages who were kidnapped over 500 days after the group attacked Israel in October 2023.
According to Fox News, Hamas has said the hostage include Shiri Bibas and her two children, Ariel and Kfir, as well as Oded Lifshitz, a retired activist and journalist.
Shiri was 32-year-old at the time she and her children, who were 4 years old and 9 months at the time of their kidnapping. Shiri’s husband and father of her children, Yarden, was also kidnapped but survived the ordeal and was released on February 1.
Fox News further reported the exchange took place near Khan Younis at 9 a.m. local time Thursday, and had a large crowd in attendance, who erupted in cheers when cars arrived carrying coffins.
Israel’s Government Press Office wrote on X that the hostages had been returned and asked for privacy for the families.
“The bodies of the four Israeli hostages have officially been returned to Israel by the IDF forces. They will immediately be taken to identification, a process that might take some time. We ask everyone to respect the hostages’ families’ privacy in these hard times.”
The office slammed the response from those in Gaza who celebrated and filmed the event.
“As the bodies of four Israeli hostages are transferred by Hamas to the Red Cross, hundreds of ‘innocent Gazans’ dance to music, and happily film this tragic event. Speechless doesn’t begin to describe how this makes us feel,” the X post read.
The office posted further updates, including accusations that the terror group had continued to disrespect the bodies of the dead right to the last minute.
The post read: “Shiri Bibas – date of arrest 7.10.2023″ – Her only crime? Being a Jew. Until the very last moments, Hamas disrespects the bodies of the hostages. How is the world silent? Where is the international community outrage when something this atrocious happens? WE will not stay silent, and you shouldn’t either!”
Oded Lifshitz was officially identified as one of the returned deceased hostages: “83-year-old Oded Lifshitz was officially identified as one of the four deceased hostages returned to Israel this morning. Oded was kidnapped from his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz along with his wife Yocheved on October 7th. Yocheved was released over two weeks after her abduction, while Oded stayed captive in Gaza. Our hearts go out to Yocheved and all of Oded’s loved ones. May he rest in peace.”
