Bodies of two Bibas boys identified by Israel but the other body is NOT their mother
IDF says failure to return all three Bibas family bodies is 'very serious violation by the Hamas terrorist organisation'
Israel has officially identified the two Bibas boys Ariel and Kfir but announced the third body returned this morning is not their mother Shiri.
Experts used forensic evidence and intelligence and assessed that the two young boys had been “brutally murdered” by terrorists in November 2023.
But tests at Israel’s Abu Kabir Forensic Institute determined that the third body was not Shiri, and no match was found with any other hostage.
Ariel was 4-years-old and Kfir was 10-months-old when they were murdered.
“This is a very serious violation by the Hamas terrorist organization, which is required by the agreement to return four dead hostages,” said the IDF.
“We demand that Hamas return Shiri home along with all of our hostages.”
“We share the deep sorrow of the Bibas family at this difficult time and will continue to make every effort to return Shiri and all the hostages home as soon as possible.”
It is news that will trigger an outpouring of grief and anger in Israel and across the Jewish world.
The two Bibas boys have over the past 16 months become the most recognisable victims of the October 7 terror attacks on Israel.
A convoy carrying the bodies of Ariel and Kfir, 85-year-old Oded Lifshitz, all from the Nir Oz kibbutz, and an unknown deceased person, had arrived at Israel’s forensics centre in Tel Aviv on Thursday for DNA checks and autopsy procedures.
But footage of the kidnapping of the trio, by a Palestinian terror group linked to Hamas on October 7 has sparked fury and revulsion, especially as some pro-Palestine activists have attempted to justify the massacre as legitimate “resistance”.
At just nine months, Kfir was the youngest hostage kidnapped into Gaza and the youngest to have been killed.
His brother Ariel was aged four at the time of the attack, while Shiri was 32 years old.
The IDF statement added:”According to the assessment of professional officials, based on the intelligence available to us and forensic findings from the identification process, Ariel and Kfir Bibas were brutally murdered by terrorists in captivity in November 2023.
“During the identification process, it was determined that the additional body received is not that of Shiri Bibas, and no match was found for any other hostage.
“This is an anonymous, unidentified body. This is a violation of utmost severity by the Hamas terrorist organisation, which is obligated under the agreement to return four deceased hostages.
“We demand that Hamas return Shiri home along with all our hostages. Ariel Bibas was four years old at the time of his death, and Kfir Bibas was ten months old at the time of his death.
“They were abducted with their mother, Shiri Bibas, from their home in Nir Oz. Yarden Bibas, Ariel and Kfir’s father, went out to protect them and was abducted prior to the abduction of Shiri and the children.
“Yarden returned as part of the agreement for the return of the hostages on February 1, 2025.
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the Bibas family during this incredibly difficult time and remain committed to doing everything possible to ensure Shiri and all the hostages are brought home at the earliest opportunity.”
A photo of Kfir clutching a pink elephant toy and looking directly at the camera with a toothless smile was seen at protests across the globe over the past 16 months.
His brother Ariel is also often shown in a photo taken after he had a haircut, still wrapped in the hairdresser’s cape.
Father of the boys Yarden was among those released from earlier this month after 484 days in captivity.
Hamas had claimed without any evidence that they had been killed in November 2023 after an Israeli air strike
It is claim never confirmed by Israel.
Early on Thursday morning, in choreographed scenes that sparked widespread condemnation, four black coffins were laid out on a stage decked with propaganda in Khan Younis in southern Gaza in front of crowds of spectators.
The Israeli army held a ceremony attended by a rabbi upon receiving the bodies, and then transferred them to caskets draped in the Israeli flag before they were driven to Tel Aviv.
The IDF had earlier informed the family of Oded Lifshitz that he was murdered in Palestinian Islamic Jihad captivity, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said.
Israel’s forensic institute said he was murdered over a year ago.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
