Hamas Hands Over Bodies of 4 Israeli Hostages Kidnapped on October 7, 2023
In a deeply emotional and polarizing ceremony, Hamas returned the bodies of four Israeli hostages on February 20, 2025. Israeli mother Shiri Bibas and her two young sons, Ariel (5) and Kfir (2), and 83-year-old peace activist Oded Lifshitz were among the 251 hostages taken in the October 7, 2023, brutal Hamas-led attack.
The repatriation of their bodies once more ignited global indignation and doubled calls for discussion regarding the Israeli-Gaza conflict. Hamas politicized the repatriation into a spectacle, parading the corpses in a taunting procession, which increased tensions even further.
The October 7, 2023, Hamas Attack and Abductions
Hamas and other militant organizations surprised an attack on Israel on 7th October, 2023, and killed over 1,200 individuals and took hostage 251 of them, including some children and elderly people. This attack was one of the deadliest attacks in Israeli history and led to a protracted fight by the army in Gaza. (Source: Wikipedia)
Among them were the Bibas family, who were kidnapped from their Nir Oz kibbutz home. The grotesque video of Shiri holding her frightened sons as they were dragged off by Hamas fighters went viral, capturing the violence of the war. (Source: AP News)
Hamas' Provocative Handing Over of the Bodies
The bodies of Ariel, Kfir Bibas, and Shiri Bibas, and Oded Lifshitz were returned in a theatrics-filled repatriation in Khan Younis, Gaza. The event was used as political propaganda when Israeli flags were waved by Hamas militants and the picture of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was dubbed "The Killer." The gesture was worldwide-condemned as an outright provocation against Israel. (Source: The Wall Street Journal)
Israel Reacts: National Mourning and Calls for Action
The return of the bodies of the hostages has plunged Israel into mourning, with candlelight vigils and national sorrow. Israeli President Isaac Herzog responded by stating, "The nation has lost a mother and two innocent children, victims of merciless terror." (Source: AP News)
The tragic murder of the Bibas children, but especially Kfir, who was only nine months old at the time of kidnapping, has raised calls for further military action against Hamas. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have pledged continued action in Gaza to rescue remaining hostages.
Who Was Oded Lifshitz?
Oded Lifshitz was an 83-year-old journalist and activist and a vocal advocate of Israeli-Palestinian peace. His death after being arrested has become all the more tragic as he was well known to bring Palestinians into Israel for medical treatment. His legacy is now a combination of hope and sadness. (Source: The Scottish Sun)
Ceasefire and Continuing Negotiations: What Next?
The return of the bodies of the hostages comes after a fragile truce brokered by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt. The truce has facilitated the release of hostages, although tensions remain high. Hamas has been insisting on further negotiations, requesting Palestinian prisoners to be freed in exchange for Israeli captives who remain in captivity.
Israel remains divided on what to do next—whether to continue with diplomacy or intensify military action against Hamas bases. (Source: Reuters)
The International Community Responds
Governments and international humanitarian agencies worldwide have condemned the actions of Hamas. The United Nations again reiterated the calls for an end to all hostilities, asking both sides to uphold international humanitarian laws.
American Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated, "The use of hostages for political leverage is unacceptable. Hamas must release all captives immediately." The European Union also condemned the exploitation of innocent lives for propaganda purposes. (Source: The Australian)
The Impact on Israeli-Palestinian Relations
The horrible destiny of the Bibas family and Oded Lifshitz has again stirred debates regarding the hostage negotiation policy of the Israeli government. Stronger actions should have been taken in the first place to rescue them safely, critics contend. Others refer to the complexities inherent in negotiating with militant groups like Hamas.
Israeli citizens have taken to the streets, demanding justice and urging world leaders to act more aggressively against Hamas. Protests in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv indicate growing outrage at the government's handling of the hostage situation. (Source: AP News)
What Lies Ahead?
As Israel grieves, the government must make key decisions about future security policy. The return of the bodies of the hostages emphasizes the imperative for a long-term solution that will bring safety and peace. As military operations continue, diplomatic efforts are still key to securing the remaining hostages and avoiding future catastrophes.