The Bibas family, including Shiri and her two young boys, Kfir and Ariel, became symbols of the hostage crisis that began after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. Hamas has announced it will hand over the bodies of Shiri, her sons, and a fourth captive, Oded Lifshitz, on Thursday, marking the first such handover since the attack.
This transfer is part of the fragile ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas that began on January 19, after months of fighting. The Bibas family had been abducted during Hamas’s assault, and their deaths have been confirmed by Hamas, though Israel has not officially verified the claim. Israel continues to process the identification of the bodies, with 10 forensic doctors mobilized to expedite the process. The situation underscores the ongoing emotional and national impact of the hostage crisis.
