Nation Mourns Bibas Family, Oded Lifshitz as Bodies Transferred to Israel
The IDF and Israeli authorities geared up for an emotional day as Hamas returned four dead captives.
By: Jewish News Syndicate Staff/Israel Hayom – Jewish News Syndicate; jns.org
(Feb. 20, 2025 / Israel Hayom)
Israel redeemed on Thursday the bodies of four slain hostages from Hamas captivity in Gaza: the three members of the Bibas family—mother Shiri, infant son Kfir and his older brother Ariel, and octogenarian Oded Lifshitz.
The Red Cross handed four coffins to Israel Defense Forces troops and Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) agents in the Gaza Strip, after the Geneva-based agency received the caskets from the Hamas terrorist group following a propaganda ceremony.
Israel filed a complaint with mediators and the Red Cross after the Hamas stage show, saying that it breached the terms of their agreement.
IDF sappers inspected the caskets, which were locked without keys, to ensure they were not booby-trapped. The IDF also verified whether any personal belongings of the hostages were returned with the bodies.
A brief military ceremony was held and presided over by the chief rabbi of the IDF before the bodies were taken to Israel for identification.
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