Politics Hamas hands over dead Israeli hostages
Hamas has handed over the mortal remains of four people in the Gaza Strip to the Red Cross. The ceremony in Chan Junis was broadcast live on television. Israel now wants to verify the identity of the bodies, which Hamas claims are dead hostages.
20.02.2025, 09:47
SDA
Hamas had set up a stage at the handover site and numerous cheering onlookers gathered alongside dozens of hooded and masked Islamists in uniforms, accompanied by loud music.
Four black coffins were laid out on the stage, in the background Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was depicted as a vampire, with pictures of the hostages who had been killed. "The war criminal Netanyahu and his army killed them with missiles from Zionist fighter jets," was written next to them. An Israeli presenter spoke of a "theater of terror".
Two small children are said to be among the dead
According to Hamas and Israeli media, a mother and two small children were among the dead. All three also have German citizenship.
The fate of Shiri, Ariel and Kfir Bibas has still not been clarified beyond doubt. Video footage of the terrified mother and her two red-haired sons, which was taken during the kidnapping following the massacre by Hamas terrorists in the Israeli border area on October 7, 2023, went around the world.
According to Israeli reports, the forensic investigation could take some time. The duration of the identification process also depends on the condition of the bodies, several media outlets reported on Wednesday, citing Health Minister Uriel Busso. Busso emphasized that Israel also wanted to determine the causes of death.
Hamas had announced during the war in the fall of 2023 that the three had been killed in Israeli bombardments. From Israel's perspective, however, there has been no conclusive confirmation of their deaths to date. However, there is great concern about the fate of the three, according to official sources.
The children's father, Jarden Bibas, was recently released. "Unfortunately, my family has not returned to me," he said after his return to Israel. "My light is still there (in the Gaza Strip), and as long as they are there, everything is dark here."
The youngest was still a baby when he was kidnapped. He was not yet able to walk and say "mama" at the time of his abduction, his mother's cousin recently told the German Press Agency. His older brother still believed in superheroes at the time, according to Jimmy Miller.
Four more bodies to be handed over next week
Hamas announced on Tuesday that it intended to hand over the four dead hostages to Israel. Netanyahu's office confirmed the agreement with the Islamist organization. In return, Israel will reportedly release all women and minors who have been arrested since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023 and who are not believed to have been involved in the armed struggle against Israel.
The war was triggered by the attack on Israel by Hamas and other extremist groups on October 7, 2023, in which around 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 Israelis were taken hostage in the Gaza Strip. According to the Hamas-controlled health authority in the Gaza Strip, almost 48,300 people have been killed since then, including many women and minors.
According to Hamas, four more bodies are to be handed over next week. In addition, six more hostages are to be released on Saturday as part of the agreement between Israel and the Islamist organization.
Continuation of the ceasefire remains uncertain
Since the beginning of the ceasefire in the Gaza war on January 19, Islamists in the Gaza Strip have released 19 hostages in several rounds so far. In addition, five Thais kidnapped from Israel were released independently of the agreement. The multi-stage agreement between Israel and Hamas provides for the gradual release of a total of 33 hostages, including eight dead, in exchange for 1,904 Palestinian prisoners during an initial six-week phase.
The first phase of the deal is due to end in a week and a half. According to reports, contrary to the agreement, the two warring parties have not yet held any serious negotiations on the second phase of the deal. It should lead to a final end to the war and the release of the remaining hostages. Israeli media reported, citing Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, that talks are to begin "this week".
