Human remains returned to Israel by Hamas on Friday have been confirmed as those of Shiri Bibas, a former hostage taken during the October 7 attack, according to a statement from her family released Saturday via the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.
Bibas was among those expected to be returned Thursday alongside her two sons, nine-month-old Kfir and four-year-old Ariel, as well as fellow hostage Oded Lifshitz. However, while Israeli forensic authorities identified the remains of the children and Lifshitz, the fourth set of remains did not match Bibas or any other known Israeli hostage, sparking confusion and outrage.
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“Last night, our Shiri was brought home. After the identification process at the Institute for Forensic Medicine, we received the heartbreaking news this morning that we had feared: our Shiri was murdered in captivity,” the family statement read. “She has returned home to her sons, her husband, her sister, and all her family to rest.”
A Family Torn Apart
Her husband, Yarden Bibas, was released earlier this month after 484 days in captivity. The return of Shiri’s remains marks the end of a harrowing chapter for the family and their community in Kibbutz Nir Oz, where they were abducted by Hamas during the attack.
The kidnapping of the Bibas family sent shockwaves across Israel, with images of Shiri and her children in captivity surfacing periodically. Their plight became a symbol of the ongoing humanitarian crisis. For months, activists and families of other hostages campaigned relentlessly for their return, hoping against the odds that they would be brought home alive.
Political Reactions and National Mourning
Opposition leader Yair Lapid called the moment “a long and painful closing of a circle,” expressing sorrow for the family and lamenting the tragic ending.
Kibbutz Nir Oz, in a statement, shared their “deep sorrow,” noting that after 16 excruciating months, Bibas and her children will now be laid to rest in their homeland.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also addressed the nation, condemning Hamas’ brutality and reaffirming Israel’s commitment to securing the release of all remaining hostages. “The return of Shiri’s remains is a solemn reminder of the atrocities committed on October 7. We will not stop until every hostage is accounted for,” Netanyahu stated.
The Role of International Mediation
The International Committee of the Red Cross confirmed Friday that it received a coffin from Hamas and transferred the remains to Israeli authorities for identification. Hamas-run Al-Aqsa news reported that the group had handed over Bibas’ body to the Red Cross, citing its leader Mahmoud Mardawi.
The role of international organizations in securing the return of hostages and remains has been widely debated. While mediators have facilitated exchanges between Hamas and Israel, families of hostages have expressed frustration over the slow progress. “Every day that passes is another day of uncertainty, pain, and loss,” one relative of another hostage told reporters.
Conflicting Narratives and Investigations
Hamas claims Bibas and her sons were killed in an Israeli airstrike in 2023 and suggested that her body may have initially been confused with another casualty. However, Israel has categorically rejected this narrative. On Friday, Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari stated that forensic evidence indicated the two young boys were murdered by militants “with their bare hands,” though he did not provide further details. Hamas later dismissed these allegations as “sheer lies.”
Israeli authorities have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the Bibas family’s captivity and deaths. Analysts suggest that forensic reports and classified intelligence may provide a clearer picture in the coming weeks.
Public Mourning and a Nation in Grief
As the convoy carrying Bibas’ remains arrived in Tel Aviv for identification, mourners gathered outside the Abu Kabir Forensics Center, holding Israeli flags in a silent tribute. Candles were lit in cities across Israel as communities honored the memory of Shiri, Kfir, and Ariel.
Memorial services are expected to be held in the coming days, with a state-led funeral likely to follow. The Bibas family’s tragic fate has left a lasting scar on Israel, a painful reminder of the many hostages still unaccounted for as the conflict continues.
With hostilities persisting and families still waiting for answers, the return of Shiri Bibas’ remains underscores the urgent need for continued diplomatic efforts and international intervention in resolving the ongoing crisis.
