For ads-free news, click here.
After being held hostage by Hamas for 484 days, Israeli Yarden Bibas was finally freed on February 1. On Thursday, the bodies of his wife and two small children were finally released by Hamas in a heartbreaking handover. The family was attacked and taken hostage by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7, 2023.
From the Times of Israel: Holding flags and braving cold and intermittently stormy weather, Israelis gathered Thursday to line the route of a convoy carrying what are believed to be the bodies of four slain Israeli hostages — Shiri Bibas, her sons Ariel and Kfir, and Oded Lifshitz — who were abducted alive by terrorists on October 7, 2023.
Four coffins were transferred by Hamas to the Red Cross Thursday morning in a propaganda-filled ceremony in Khan Younis, and were then handed over to the Israel Defense Forces inside Gaza.
Following a brief military ceremony, a convoy carrying the coffins, now draped in Israeli flags, crossed the border into Israel in IDF ambulances and were driven to the Abu Kabir forensic institute near Tel Aviv for identification.
As the IDF convoy exited Gaza, police officers and soldiers gathered to salute and pay their respects, waving flags and bowing their heads.
Footage showed dozens of people standing in the rain with umbrellas and yellow flags representing solidarity with the hostages. Some groups held moments of silence, while others sang the national anthem, Hatikva.
השיירה עם ארונות החללים הגיעה אל המכון לרפואה משפטית | צפו: המונים מצוידים בדגלים שרים את התקווה לצד שיירת המכוניות>>@yoeli_brim pic.twitter.com/G6xUHxHprn
— גלצ (@GLZRadio) February 20, 2025
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson wrote, Our hearts break as four hostages murdered by Hamas return to Israel: Oded Lifshitz, Shiri Bibas, and her two young sons, Kfir and Ariel. It is beyond comprehension that anyone could take the lives of these innocent people—a peace activist, and a young mother and her babies. This is pure evil. America stands with Israel in its fight to eliminate Hamas.”
Our hearts break as four hostages murdered by Hamas return to Israel: Oded Lifshitz, Shiri Bibas, and her two young sons, Kfir and Ariel.
It is beyond comprehension that anyone could take the lives of these innocent people—a peace activist, and a young mother and her babies.… pic.twitter.com/YF96z2KBdA
— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) February 20, 2025
General Mike Flynn responded, “It is not beyond comprehension…these are savages the world is dealing with. No ifs, ands, or buts! The world needs to wake up and understand the ideological underpinnings of radicalized Islamists must be understood, called out by leaders across the globe, and destroyed where possible. This type of behavior is totally unacceptable.”
It is not beyond comprehension…these are savages the world is dealing with. No ifs, ands, or buts! The world needs to wake up and understand the ideological underpinnings of radicalized Islamists must be understood, called out by leaders across the globe, and destroyed where…
— General Mike Flynn (@GenFlynn) February 20, 2025
Many people waved Israeli flags and some brought balloons, in honor of the four deceased Israeli hostages.
ארונותיהם של ארבעת החללים הועברו לידי צה”ל ברצועה, בעוד זמן קצר יחל טקס לזכרם; הרצוג: “סליחה שלא מילאנו את חובתנו להגן עליכם”@Doron_Kadosh @yanircozin pic.twitter.com/iIZtQz7d72
— גלצ (@GLZRadio) February 20, 2025
תיעוד: כוחות צה”ל מקבלים את ארונות החטופים החללים עטופים בדגלי ישראל >>@Doron_Kadosh pic.twitter.com/HtlNerCQsI
— גלצ (@GLZRadio) February 20, 2025
A video is still circulating on social media, of the moment Ariel Bibas met his baby brother Kfir for the first time. Now both children, and their mother, are dead after they were brutally kidnapped by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023.
Cannot stop watching this video of Ariel Bibas meeting his new baby brother Kfir for the first time. 😞💔💔
This one really destroys me. It hits different when you hear them actually speaking versus seeing pictures.
Hamas needs to be wiped off this planet IMMEDIATLY. pic.twitter.com/E29hByOgow
— Jeremy Kamali (@JeremyKamali) February 19, 2025
Fox News reporter Trey Yingst wrote, “My thoughts are with the Bibas family today. Taking anyone hostage is horrific. Taking a baby and a toddler hostage, and then later parading their bodies through the streets, is subhuman and barbaric.”
My thoughts are with the Bibas family today.
Taking anyone hostage is horrific.
Taking a baby and a toddler hostage, and then later parading their bodies through the streets, is subhuman and barbaric.
— Trey Yingst (@TreyYingst) February 20, 2025
Journalist Emily Schrader posted a video of the transfer and wrote “The caskets of Oded Lifshitz, Shiri Bibas, Ariel Bibas (5), and Kfir Bibas (1) have been paraded across a stage with Hamas terrorists to cheering Gazan “civilians” surrounded by terrorist propaganda. Hamas is openly and publicly celebrating that they kidnapped and murdered an infant baby, to cheering crowds. Think about that for a second.”
The caskets of Oded Lifshitz, Shiri Bibas, Ariel Bibas (5), and Kfir Bibas (1) have been paraded across a stage with Hamas terrorists to cheering Gazan “civilians” surrounded by terrorist propaganda.
Hamas is openly and publicly celebrating that they kidnapped and murdered an… pic.twitter.com/OVL4UGnZxD
— Emily Schrader – אמילי שריידר امیلی شریدر (@emilykschrader) February 20, 2025
In a sickening display, Palestinian children were seen cheering and celebrating the death of the Bibas family.
Palestinian children celebrating the kidnapping and murder of Bibas family on the stage today 👇
This is the result of @UNRWA education.pic.twitter.com/LVCoSl6hiA
— Dr. Eli David (@DrEliDavid) February 20, 2025
“Listen to the celebratory music and Palestinians clapping as the bodies of Shiri Bibas and her two babies are paraded by H×mas subhumans 👇 This death cult should be wiped out from the face of the Earth,” declared Dr. Eli David.
Listen to the celebratory music and Palestinians clapping as the bodies of Shiri Bibas and her two babies are paraded by H×mas subhumans 👇
This death cult should be wiped out from the face of the Earth.
pic.twitter.com/TT0Mlzl20W— Dr. Eli David (@DrEliDavid) February 20, 2025
Every college kid who marched for a ceasefire.
Every celebrity who wore a handprint pin.
Every politician who demanded more aid.
Every person who screamed that basic humanity was on the line.
Will you FINALLY use your voice for Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas? pic.twitter.com/C3a2muMqvH
— Aviva Klompas (@AvivaKlompas) February 19, 2025
Kfir and Ariel Bibas.
💔🕊️
May they rest in peace. 💔🕯️🇮🇱 pic.twitter.com/UESuUfJ7EF
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) February 20, 2025
🇮🇱 🇦🇷 Argentinian President Javier Milei, who is well-known for his love for Israel and the Jewish people, has officially declared a national day of mourning in Argentina for the Bibas brothers, Ariel and Kfir.
Thank you, Javier. Thank you, Argentina. 🧡 pic.twitter.com/O0VBsJeArg
— Vivid.🇮🇱 (@VividProwess) February 19, 2025
Yarden Bibas spent 16 months in captivity in Gaza before being released without his family.
Now he has to live the rest of his life knowing that his wife and two sons were murdered and live with the torment that he was unable to save them. 💔🕊️🕯️🇮🇱 pic.twitter.com/tVrYBwUrv7
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) February 20, 2025
It is impossible to fathom the depth of the Bibas family’s pain, especially Yarden Bibas, who lost his wife and two beautiful sons — taken at just 9 months and 4 years old.
My family continually prayed for Yarden, Shiri, Kfir, and Ariel.
May God hold these precious children… pic.twitter.com/2GYgRp6VsF
— Kayleigh McEnany (@kayleighmcenany) February 19, 2025
Pray for Yarden Bibas.
I don’t believe any human on this Earth suffers more pain than him today. pic.twitter.com/PkkvILfYcc
— 𝗡𝗶𝗼𝗵 𝗕𝗲𝗿𝗴 ♛ ✡︎ (@NiohBerg) February 20, 2025
The Israel Defense Forces announced, “A short while ago, IDF and ISA forces brought the coffins of the four deceased hostages over the border into Israel, and they are being taken to the National Institute of Forensic Medicine to undergo an identification procedure. IDF representatives are accompanying their families at this difficult time.”
A short while ago, IDF and ISA forces brought the coffins of the four deceased hostages over the border into Israel, and they are being taken to the National Institute of Forensic Medicine to undergo an identification procedure. IDF representatives are accompanying their families…
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) February 20, 2025
The IDF salutes the deceased hostages as they return home after over 500 days in the hands of terrorists. pic.twitter.com/oYJTIJUde4
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) February 20, 2025
We can now confirm that the late Oded Lifshitz was murdered, at the age of 83, in captivity by Islamic Jihad and was brought back to Israel today.
We send our deepest condolences to his wife, Yocheved, and to the rest of his family.
May his memory be a blessing. pic.twitter.com/ACEjXJz37j
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) February 20, 2025
These are the remains of Oded Lifshitz’s piano after Hamas terrorists kidnapped him and his wife and destroyed their home on Oct 7, 2023.
Oded was an 83-year-old journalist and activist, kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz. His house was burned down and his life stolen. pic.twitter.com/ueyVfAfz1k
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) February 20, 2025
Follow us on X (Formerly Twitter.)
The DML News App: www.X.com/DMLNewsApp
The Dennis Michael Lynch Podcast archive is available below, with the most recent on top. Never miss an episode. Subscribe to the show by downloading The DML News App or go to Apple Podcasts.