Hamas handed over 4 our bodies to the Purple Cross in Gaza on Thursday, within the newest return of deceased hostages as a part of the group’s ceasefire take care of Israel.
Purple Cross officers took custody of 4 black coffins throughout a ceremony within the southern Gaza metropolis of Khan Younis. A Purple Cross official and a Hamas commander appeared on a stage to signal paperwork as a part of the handover. The coffins have been additionally introduced onto the stage.
A banner on the stage declared in each Arabic and English: “The Return of Warfare = The Return of Your Prisoners in Coffins.”
In a joint assertion, the Israel Protection Forces and Israel Safety Company mentioned that, “In keeping with info communicated by the Purple Cross, 4 caskets of deceased hostages have been transferred to them, and they’re being taken to IDF and ISA forces within the Gaza Strip.”
A Palestinian militant stands close to coffins through the handover of deceased hostages in Khan Younis within the southern Gaza Strip, on Feb. 20, 2025.
Ramadan Abed/Reuters
Israel and Hamas have confirmed the names of the 4 our bodies which might be set to be returned to Israel Thursday: Oded Lifshitz, a journalist and peace activist and Shiri Bibas and her two kids — Ariel and Kfir Bibas. As soon as the our bodies are again in Israel, the Israeli officers will conduct forensic evaluation to substantiate the identities of the our bodies.
In the course of the handover, Hamas launched an announcement that learn partially, “To the households of Bibas and Lifshitz: We’d have most well-liked your sons to return to you alive, however your military and authorities leaders selected to kill them as an alternative of bringing them again.”
“They killed with them: 17,881 Palestinian kids, of their prison bombardment of the Gaza Strip, and we all know that you understand who is actually accountable for their departure,” the assertion added. “You have been the sufferer of a management that doesn’t care about its kids.”
Kfir Bibas was 8 1/2 months outdated when he was kidnapped by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023 — the youngest of the 251 hostages taken on the day the group carried out its terror assault on Israel — the worst within the nation’s historical past. Within the ensuing warfare, greater than 48,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza.
This undated photograph supplied by Hostages Household Discussion board exhibits Shiri Bibas, who was kidnapped and dropped at Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023.
Hostages Household Discussion board through AP
This undated photograph supplied by Hostages Household Discussion board exhibits Kfir Bibas, who was kidnapped and dropped at Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023.
Hostages Household Discussion board through AP
Oded Lifshitz’s spouse, Yocheved, was among the many first few hostages launched through the first ceasefire settlement in November 2023. Sixty-nine hostages stay in Gaza after Thursday’s launch.
“At this tough time, our hearts exit to the grieving households,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned in an announcement.
The Hostage Households Discussion board referred to as for the second stage of the three-stage ceasefire to proceed, saying there may be “no time to waste.” Within the second part of the ceasefire settlement — which ought to final 42 days — Israel is to utterly withdraw its forces from the Gaza Strip. Hamas and Israel additionally agreed to a everlasting cessation of all army operations and hostilities earlier than all remaining Israeli hostages, civilians and troopers are launched by Hamas in change for Palestinian prisoners.
This undated photograph supplied by Hostages Household Discussion board exhibits Ariel Bibas, who was kidnapped and dropped at Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023.
Hostages Household Discussion board through AP
This undated photograph supplied by Hostage’s Household Discussion board exhibits Israeli hostage Oded Lifshitz who was kidnapped and dropped at Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023.
Hostage’s Household Discussion board through AP
“We obtained the heart-shattering information that Shiri Bibas, her kids Ariel and Kfir, and Oded Lifshitz are not with us. This information cuts like a knife by our hearts, the households’ hearts and the hearts of individuals everywhere in the world,” the households of the hostages mentioned in an announcement Wednesday.
“We grieve not just for them, however for the opposite treasured lives misplaced, together with 4 extra deceased hostages who will probably be returned subsequent week,” households of hostages mentioned.
Six different hostages are anticipated to be launched on Saturday and 4 extra our bodies will probably be returned to Israel subsequent week. The hostages who will probably be launched on Saturday have been recognized as Eliya Cohen, 27; Tal Shoham, 40; Omer Shem Tov, 22; Omer Wenkrat, 23; Hisham Al-Sayed, 36; and Avera Mengistu, 39, in keeping with Israeli officers and the Hostages and Lacking Households Discussion board.
Members of the Nijim household dangle laundry on the ruins of their home, amid widespread destruction attributable to the Israeli army’s floor and air offensive in Jabaliya, Gaza Strip, on Feb. 18, 2025.
Jehad Alshrafi/AP
Folks stroll amid the destruction attributable to the Israeli air and floor offensive in Jabaliya, Gaza Strip, on Feb. 18, 2025.
Jehad Alshrafi/AP
Negotiations to set the phrases for the second part of the ceasefire haven’t began, however mediators are pushing to have talks start as quickly as attainable to permit sufficient time for dialogue earlier than the second part is predicted to start (the primary part is predicted to final 42 days), Qatar’s overseas ministry mentioned on Tuesday. Hamas has accused Israel of avoiding negotiations and says it is prepared to barter.
Final week, Hamas threatened to not launch hostages over the weekend, saying Israel was not holding up its finish of the ceasefire by delaying the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza.
Hamas later mentioned the change would happen as deliberate and launched three hostages this previous Saturday.
