Hamas will give back the bodies of four deceased captives, confirmed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office on Wednesday. Netanyahu’s office also mentioned that the militant group is anticipated to return the remains of the captives without any formalities.
Last week, Hamas faced severe criticism for holding a ceremony displaying the coffins of four deceased captives: Ariel Bibas, Kfir Bibas, Shiri Bibas, and Oded Lifshitz. Among them, the coffin assigned for Shiri Bibas was later found to contain the body of an unidentified Palestinian woman from Gaza. Eventually, Shiri’s remains were returned to Israel.
“These heartless Hamas individuals callously declined to repatriate the boys’ mother, Shiri, and instead sent the body of a Gazan woman, completely disregarding the agreement,” stated Netanyahu in a release on February 21.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference in Jerusalem on Dec. 9, 2024. (MAYA ALLERUZZO/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Many, however, were not satisfied with the statements from U.N. officials, with some critics slamming the international institution for its alleged lack of action after Oct. 7.
“For 16 months, Israel has been fighting a deranged terrorist organization that places no value on human life, especially if it is Israeli or Jewish – all while international institutions like the UN refrained from condemning Hamas and formally demanding the immediate return of our hostages,” Israeli UN Ambassador Danny Danon said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
While Hamas released a list of the hostages whose bodies will supposedly be returned later today, Israel has not officially confirmed the identities of the deceased hostages.Â
People look on next to flowers and the graves of Shiri, 32, and her two children, Kfir, 9 months old, and Ariel, 4, of the Bibas family, who were kidnapped from their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz during the deadly Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas and then killed in Gaza, after their funeral procession, in Tzohar, Israel, on Feb. 26, 2025. (REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun)
Oded Lifshitz, one of the slain hostages whose remains were returned last week, was laid to rest on Tuesday. His wife, Yocheved, delivered an emotional eulogy in which she vowed to fight to get the remaining hostages home.
While Shiri, Ariel and Kfir Bibas were buried on Wednesday together in one casket, according to the Times of Israel. Yarden Bibas, who was also taken hostage on Oct. 7 but was later released, eulogized his wife and two young sons. He also apologized to his wife and sons for not being able to protect him during Hamas’ brutal attacks.
“Shiri, this is the closest I’ve been to you since October 7th, and I can’t kiss or hug you, and it’s breaking me,” Yarden Bibas said.Â
