The body released by Palestinian militants overnight was confirmed on Saturday to be that of Shiri Bibas, the Israeli mother who was abducted on October 7, the day the war began, and killed in captivity in Gaza, her family said.
Her two young sons, Kfir, then nine months old, and Ariel, aged four, also died in captivity after they were taken hostage along with her when Hamas militants stormed their home in Nir Oz, area near the Gaza border.
Kibbutz Nir Oz mourned her death, stating, “She will be laid to rest in the land of Israel alongside her two young sons.” Israeli officials said Shiri and her sons were “brutally” murdered in November 2023. After 16 months of uncertainty, her family expressed sorrow, hoping this marks the beginning of closure.
The confirmation followed the International Committee of the Red Cross‘s transfer of human remains to Israeli authorities.
Hamas initially handed over remains they claimed were Shiri’s, but they were later identified as those of an unidentified Palestinian woman. The correct identification was made on Friday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the incorrect identification as “a cruel and malicious violation” of the agreement with Hamas.
Three other bodies returned on Thursday were confirmed as those of Shiri’s sons and Oded Lifshitz, who was 83 when they were taken hostage during the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas, which killed 1,200 people in Israel and ignited the ongoing war.