THE youngest Israeli hostage taken by Hamas has been confirmed dead alongside his brother and mother.
Israel has confirmed the horrific news after Hamas claimed on Tuesday that all three were dead which left the Bibas family in turmoil.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has officially confirmed that he has received the list of four hostages who tragically lost their lives. The list includes the names of Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas.
Their families have been notified, the Prime Minister’s Office stated.
Netanyahu said: “In this difficult time, our hearts are with the grieving families.
“We will continue to provide reliable updates as needed and ask to refrain from spreading rumours or unofficial information.”
Kfir Bibas was less than a year old when he was kidnapped by terrorists on October 7.
His then four-year-old brother Ariel and his mother Shiri Bibas, 33, were also snatched in the bloody rampage.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum announced on Wednesday that all three were dead.
Also confirmed dead is Oded Lifshitz, a retired journalist who was taken from his home in the same region.
A representative from the Hostages and Missing Families Forum expressed deep sorrow, stating, “We have been informed of the tragic news that Shiri Bibas, along with her children Ariel and Kfir, as well as Oded Lifshitz, are no longer alive.”
“This news cuts like a knife through our hearts, the families’ hearts and the hearts of people all over the world.
“Oded was a journalist and peace activist who helped found Kibbutz Nir Oz.
Oded Lifshitz was known for his selfless dedication to aiding others, particularly by transporting sick individuals from Gaza to hospitals in Israel. His grandchildren fondly referred to him as ‘Super Grandpa’ due to his wisdom and affection.
“Shiri was a dedicated mother and accountant, known for her boundless kindness, who nurtured and cared for all the kibbutz children.
“She touched everyone’s heart with her capacity for giving and love for others.
“Ariel, just four-year-old when kidnapped, loved Batman and playing with tractors in the garden.
“Baby Kfir, not-even-one-year-old when taken, had gorgeous red hair and a smile that could melt any person.
“They weren’t just names – they were beloved people, with families who cherished them, with dreams and futures stolen from them.
“We grieve not only for them, but for the other precious lives lost, including four more deceased hostages who will be returned next week.
“We will not rest. We will not stop fighting for every hostage who isn’t part of the current deal – for those still alive, clinging to survival, desperate to return to their loved ones and begin healing.
“And for those we know are deceased – their families deserve the dignity of closure, the basic right to give their loved ones a proper burial.
“This cannot continue. Not one more day. The second stage of the deal must happen NOW. There is no more time to waste.
“Not when every passing moment could mean another life lost, another family shattered. Bring them all home – NOW.”
It is not known when or how the four hostages died, though Hamas has claimed that they were killed in an Israeli airstrike in November.
The Bibas family had taken shelter inside their home on Kibbutz Nir Oz when Hamas stormed the area.
Their father Yarden, 35, was also taken after Hamas brutes smashed him over the head with a hammer.
He was released by Hamas earlier this month as the rest of the Bibas family said they were “desperately clinging to hope” for the release of his wife and sons.
The bodies of the four hostages are set to return to Israel on Thursday, local media reports.
Netanyahu said in a video statement: “Tomorrow will be a very difficult day for the State of Israel — a shocking day, a day of grief.
“We are bringing home four of our beloved abductees, who have fallen.
“We embrace the families, and the heart of an entire nation is torn apart. My heart is torn. Yours is too.
“And the heart of the whole world should be torn as well, because here we see who we are dealing with, what we are dealing with — monsters.
“We mourn, we hurt, but we are also determined to ensure that such a thing never happens again.”
Hamas has said the bodies will be returned alongside six living hostages.
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