Israel Confirms Hostage Transfers : Israel Acknowledges Transfer of Two Hostages by Hamas, Anticipates Further Releases

Jerusalem, Feb 22 (NationPress) Israel has officially acknowledged the return of two hostages, Tal Shoham and Avera Mengistu, who were delivered to the Red Cross by Hamas as part of a scheduled release.

The Red Cross is currently accompanying them to Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and Shin Bet officials within Gaza before they exit the Strip.

A video shared by Hamas depicts Shoham and Mengistu disembarking from Hamas vehicles in Rafah, appearing noticeably weak.

In a statement on X, the IDF noted, "Per the information provided by the Red Cross, two hostages have been transferred to them, and they are en route to IDF and ISA units in Gaza."

Furthermore, the IDF expressed readiness to receive more hostages anticipated to be handed over to the Red Cross shortly.

In a statement regarding the release, Israel's War Room remarked, "Tal was viciously kidnapped from Kibbutz Be’eri during the October 7 assault. Avera, who has mental health challenges, inadvertently crossed into Gaza in 2015 and was captured by Hamas. Welcome back home."

Family, friends, and supporters have congregated in Tel Aviv to greet their return and celebrate their homecoming.

In return for the hostages, Israel is poised to liberate 602 Palestinian detainees. Among them, 60 are serving lengthy sentences, 50 are serving life sentences, and 47 were re-arrested after their 2011 release in exchange for captured IDF soldier Gilad Shalit. Over 100 of the released individuals will face deportation.

Alongside Shoham and Mengistu, six additional hostages expected to be released include Omer Shem-Tov, Eliya Cohen, Omer Wenkert, and Hisham al-Sayed. They will also be transferred to IDF personnel by the Red Cross in Gaza.

In a tragic update, Israel confirmed early Saturday that Shiri Bibas, another hostage held by Hamas since October 7, 2023, was killed by her captors. Her remains were returned overnight and confirmed upon arrival in Israel.

Israeli authorities disclosed that Bibas was brutally murdered in November 2023, along with her two children, Ariel, aged 4, and Kfir, who was only nine months old at that time.

The confirmation of their deaths follows a failed attempt by Hamas to return Bibas' remains a day prior when the body delivered was identified as a Palestinian woman instead, according to reports from the Times of Israel.

Bibas' death signifies the loss of three generations within her family due to the Hamas-led assault. Her parents, Yossi and Margit Silberman, were killed in Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7.

Initially, Hamas was expected to return the remains of Bibas and her sons on Thursday, alongside fellow hostage Oded Lifshitz. The remains of Ariel, Kfir, and Lifshitz were later confirmed, with forensic evidence affirming that they were murdered over a year prior.

The fourth body handed over by Hamas was initially claimed to be Bibas' but was subsequently identified as an unnamed Palestinian woman from Gaza.

Hamas later contended that an Israeli airstrike caused confusion with the bodies. However, Israeli military sources refuted this claim, asserting that forensic evidence verified that Ariel and Kfir were murdered by their captors in November 2023, when Kfir was 10 months and Ariel was 4 years old.

IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari described the horrific conditions surrounding their deaths.

"The terrorists did not shoot the two young boys -- they killed them with their bare hands. Subsequently, they executed horrific acts to conceal these atrocities," he stated on Friday.

The confirmation of Bibas' demise closes another tragic chapter for her family and the citizens of Israel, highlighting the brutality of the October 7 attack.