Israel confirms: Deceased hostages Bibas family and Oded Lifshitz ob"m w

The Israeli government has confirmed that they received the list of slain hostages to be released tomorrow (Wednesday). The families have confirmed the release of names: Ariel Bibas, Kfir Bibas, Shiri Bibas-Silverman, Oded Lifshitz.

With the return of Kfir, just one year old, and Oded, who was killed at the age of 84, the youngest and oldest hostages are returning home.

Once they are received by Israel, the bodies will be examined forensically, with the hope of successfully identifying their remains before they are given a proper burial. There is some concern that it will not be possible to determine the cause of their deaths upon examination.

President Isaac Herzog just gave a speech in Rome upon hearing the news:

"Yesterday we all understood that the coming days will be especially turbulent for our nation. Between pain, mourning and grief – with the return of the hostages' bodies tomorrow, to relief and even hope – with the return of our living captive brothers on Saturday. But these days also emphasize two absolute truths for us: First, our supreme duty to bring back all our kidnapped brothers. Until the very last one. Every second they are in the hands of terrorist human monsters endangers their lives. We must act in every way and with all our strength, and bring them home urgently. All of them.

"And the second – the understanding that there is truly absolute and cruel evil here. Evil that murders, tortures and kidnaps mothers and babies out of murderous jihadist motivation, evil that slaughters entire families, evil that continues to commit crimes against humanity even at these very moments. These days are a wake-up call – not just for our nation, but for the entire family of nations. Against this evil, led by the Iranian octopus of evil, we must stand – together – with determination, firmness and courage."