Hamas released the bodies of four Israeli hostages, including a mother and her two children, who were feared dead following the Oct. 7, 2023, attack. The remains were identified as Shiri Bibas, her children Ariel and Kfir, and Oded Lifshitz, who was 83 when abducted. Hamas claimed they were killed in Israeli airstrikes along with their guards.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed profound sorrow as the bodies were returned to Israel, stating, 'The heart of an entire nation breaks.' However, Israel and Hamas have not yet commenced negotiations for the next phase of the ceasefire, with the current phase set to conclude in early March.
President Donald Trump's proposal to relocate the Palestinian population from Gaza and assume control of the territory has been universally rejected by Palestinians and Arab nations. The conflict has resulted in over 50,000 casualties in Gaza and Lebanon, with nearly 70% of buildings in Gaza destroyed. Additionally, approximately 1,200 individuals lost their lives in Israel during the Oct. 7 attack.
In the latest development, Hamas militants displayed four black coffins surrounded by militant banners as they handed over the hostages' remains. Red Cross vehicles were present to receive the bodies and facilitate their return to Israel. This transfer is part of a ceasefire that halted Israel's 15-month military campaign in Gaza, initiated in response to Hamas' Oct. 7 assault.
For more information on the ceasefire in Gaza, stay updated with the latest news.
