The family of Israeli hostage Shiri Bibas has confirmed that remains returned by Hamas on Friday have been identified as hers. The news, reported by AFP, brings a heartbreaking end to months of uncertainty following her abduction during Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack.
In a statement, the Bibas family expressed their sorrow, saying, “After 16 months of searching for answers, we finally have certainty. But this certainty brings no comfort—only the hope of finding some closure. Our Shiri was murdered in captivity and has now returned home to her sons, husband, sister, and all her family to rest.”
Confusion Over Identification of Remains
Despite the family’s confirmation, Israeli forensic experts have yet to verify the identification. The remains were part of a set of bodies handed over by Hamas through the Red Cross on Thursday. Hamas initially claimed that the remains included those of Shiri Bibas, her two young sons, and an elderly hostage.
However, Israeli authorities later stated that one of the bodies did not belong to Bibas. This misidentification led Hamas to blame a “mix-up” of bodies, prompting the group to hand over additional remains.
Hamas Claims Airstrike Killed Hostages
Hamas has alleged that an Israeli airstrike killed Bibas and her two sons, Kfir and Ariel, early in the war. However, Israeli officials have not confirmed this claim.
Bibas Family Becomes Symbol of Israel’s Hostage Crisis
The Bibas family has come to symbolize Israel’s ongoing hostage crisis since the October 7 attack, during which Hamas launched a large-scale assault, killing approximately 1,200 people. The attack saw armed fighters cross into southern Israel, taking at least 240 individuals captive.
The return of Shiri Bibas’s remains has reignited grief and anger across Israel, as families of other hostages continue to wait for answers.
