Red Cross personnel receive the bodies of four Israeli hostages from Hamas in Gaza. The handover, marked by a public display, has intensified calls for the release of remaining captives. Image credit: Eyad Baba/ AFP/ Getty Images
(The Post News)- Hamas has handed over the bodies of four Israeli hostages to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in the Gaza Strip. The hostages, identified as Shiri Bibas, her two young sons Ariel and Kfir, and 83-year-old Oded Lifshitz, were transferred to Israeli authorities for identification.
The Bibas family was abducted from their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz during Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. Hamas claims the hostages were killed in Israeli airstrikes in the early months of the war. Israeli officials have yet to confirm the exact cause of death.
The handover event was marked by a controversial public display in Gaza, where Hamas militants showcased four black coffins on a stage adorned with banners, including one depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a vampire. The coffins, each bearing an image of the deceased, were handed over to Red Cross personnel amidst a crowd of militants and onlookers.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed profound grief, stating, “Our hearts – the hearts of an entire nation – lie in tatters.” He also issued an apology, saying, “On behalf of the State of Israel, I bow my head and ask for forgiveness. Forgiveness for not protecting you on that terrible day. Forgiveness for not bringing you home safely.” The return of the bodies has intensified political pressure on the Israeli government to secure the release of remaining hostages.
Protests have erupted in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, with families of hostages demanding stronger action from the government. This development is part of an ongoing ceasefire agreement. Hamas is set to release six more living hostages on Saturday in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
Negotiations for a second phase of the ceasefire are expected to commence soon, addressing the release of remaining hostages and a potential withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. As Israel mourns, the hostage crisis remains a focal point in the conflict, with hopes that ongoing diplomatic efforts will bring more captives home alive.
Image Caption: Red Cross personnel receive the bodies of four Israeli hostages from Hamas in Gaza. The handover, marked by a public display, has intensified calls for the release of remaining captives.
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