The Hamas terror group returned the bodies of four hostages to Israel on Thursday.
Three of the bodies were supposed to be two small children, Ariel and Kfir Bibas, and their mother, Shiri Bibas, who were all kidnapped on Oct. 7, 2023, along with Shiri’s husband and the children’s father, Yarden Bibas. Yarden was released alive by Hamas on February 1. Shiri’s parents were both killed by the Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7.
However, the Israel Defense Forces announced Thursday night that after conducting tests on the bodies, the children have been positively identified, but the other body is NOT that of Shiri Bibas.
Below is the full statement, released by the IDF late Thursday night:
9-month-old Kfir Bibas and his 4-year-old brother Ariel have been identified as 2 of the deceased hostages returned.
Following the completion of the identification process by the National Institute of Forensic Medicine in collaboration with the Israel Police, IDF representatives informed the Bibas family that their loved ones, Ariel and Kfir Bibas, have been identified.
According to the assessment of professional officials, based on the intelligence available to us and forensic findings from the identification process, Ariel and Kfir Bibas were brutally murdered by terrorists in captivity in November 2023.
During the identification process, it was determined that the additional body received is not that of Shiri Bibas, and no match was found for any other hostage. This is an anonymous, unidentified body.
This is a violation of utmost severity by the Hamas terrorist organization, which is obligated under the agreement to return four deceased hostages. We demand that Hamas return Shiri home along with all our hostages.
Ariel Bibas was four years old at the time of his death, and Kfir Bibas was ten months old at the time of his death. They were abducted with their mother, Shiri Bibas, from their home in Nir Oz. Yarden Bibas, Ariel and Kfir’s father, went out to protect them and was abducted prior to the abduction of Shiri and the children. Yarden returned as part of the agreement for the return of the hostages on February 1, 2025.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to the Bibas family during this incredibly difficult time and remain committed to doing everything possible to ensure Shiri and all the hostages are brought home at the earliest opportunity.
𝟗-𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡-𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐊𝐟𝐢𝐫 𝐁𝐢𝐛𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝟒-𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫-𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐥 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝟐 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝:
Following the completion of the identification process by the…
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) February 20, 2025
BREAKING: Israel has just confirmed that the small bodies delivered today are Kfir and Ariel, but the adult body was not Shiri Bibas.
Where the hell is Shiri??? pic.twitter.com/cAfkRKePTs
— Hen Mazzig (@HenMazzig) February 20, 2025
Israeli citizen Ori Miller posted the following video Thursday morning, and explained:
Dana Silverman Seaton is the only sister of Shiri Bibas. Their parents were murdered by Hamas on the morning of October 7 in Kibbutz Nir Oz.
Shiri, brother-in-law Yarden, and her nephews Ariel and Kfir were kidnapped—only Yarden returned home alive.
In an interview to @kann_news five months ago, she spoke in a broken voice about the kidnapping, what happened to her family on the morning of October 7, and the hope she lost. (English subtitles).
Dana Silverman Seaton is the only sister of Shiri Bibas. Their parents were murdered by Hamas on the morning of October 7 in Kibbutz Nir Oz.
Shiri, brother-in-law Yarden, and her nephews Ariel and Kfir were kidnapped—only Yarden returned home alive.
In an interview to… pic.twitter.com/WmaaEyVV90
— Ori Miller🇮🇱 (@orielishamiller) February 20, 2025
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