Synopsis
Israel has confirmed the murder of Shiri Bibas, who was held captive by Hamas for 16 months. Her tragic death, alongside her two young children, highlights the ongoing brutality stemming from the October 7 attack. This confirmation marks a devastating chapter in the lives of her family and the community of Kibbutz Nir Oz.Key Takeaways
- Shiri Bibas was confirmed murdered by Hamas after 16 months.
- Her body was identified upon its return to Israel.
- The tragedy includes the loss of her two young sons, Ariel and Kfir.
- Three generations of her family were killed in the Hamas-led massacre.
- IDF Spokesman detailed the brutal circumstances of their deaths.
Jerusalem, Feb 22 (NationPress) Israel confirmed early Saturday that Shiri Bibas, who had been imprisoned in Gaza since October 7, 2023, was killed by Hamas. The announcement followed the overnight return of her body, which was identified upon its arrival in Israel, according to local media.
Kibbutz Nir Oz, the community where Bibas resided with her family, released a statement expressing their grief over her death.
"With pain and deep sorrow, Kibbutz Nir Oz announces the murder of Shiri Bibas, may her memory be a blessing, who was abducted from her home," the statement read.
Nir Oz was significantly affected during the Hamas-led assault in southern Israel.
"Today, after 16 unbearable months, this painful chapter has finally concluded for the family, and in the coming days, she will return, along with her two young sons, to eternal rest in the soil of Israel," the statement continued.
Israeli officials disclosed that Bibas was savagely killed in November 2023 alongside her two children, Ariel, aged 4, and Kfir, who was merely nine months old at that time.
This announcement follows a failed attempt by Hamas to return Bibas' remains a day prior, when the body delivered was identified as belonging to a Palestinian woman instead, as reported by Times of Israel.
With Bibas' death, three generations of her family have been lost in the massacre orchestrated by Hamas. Her parents, Yossi and Margit Silberman, were killed in Kibbutz Nir Oz on the day of the attack.
Hamas was initially expected to deliver the remains of Bibas and her sons on Thursday, along with those of fellow hostage Oded Lifshitz. The remains of Ariel, Kfir, and Lifshitz were later confirmed through forensic evidence to have been murdered over a year ago.
The fourth body provided by Hamas was initially claimed to be Bibas but was subsequently identified as an unnamed Palestinian woman from Gaza.
Hamas later claimed that a mix-up occurred due to an Israeli airstrike. However, Israeli military sources dismissed this assertion, emphasizing that forensic evidence clearly indicates that Ariel and Kfir were killed by their Palestinian captors in November 2023, when Kfir was 10 months old and Ariel was 4.
IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari detailed the horrific circumstances surrounding their deaths.
"The terrorists did not shoot the two young boys -- they killed them with their bare hands. Afterwards, they committed horrific acts to cover up these atrocities," he stated on Friday.
The heart-wrenching confirmation of Bibas' death closes a painful chapter for her family and the citizens of Israel, marking yet another instance of the brutality experienced during the October 7 attack.
