A dark day: 4 slain hostages return to Israel today

After 503 agonizing days of captivity, Israel prepares to receive the bodies of the Bibas family members and Oded Lifshitz. The remains will undergo identification at Abu Kabir Forensic Institute using advanced technology, though officials warn that determining the exact cause of death may prove impossible despite their best efforts.

Today's Somber Return

Unlike previous exchanges that brought hostages home alive, today's return carries a devastating weight. Four people who were captured alive on October 7th - members of the Bibas family (mother Shiri and her children Kfir and Ariel) along with Oded Lifshitz - will make their final journey home.

The process is set to begin at 8:00 AM near Khan Yunis in southern Gaza, where Hamas will transfer the remains to Red Cross representatives. Israeli forces will receive them at 9:00 AM at a designated location in southern Gaza.

Upon receiving the bodies, the military will carry out a short military ceremony with the presence of IDF Chief Rabbi Brig. Gen. Eyal Karim , before taking the slain hostages to the Abu Kabir forensic institute for identification, as reported by the Times of Israel.

The Bibas Family: A Symbol of Unimaginable Loss

Shiri Bibas, just 33 years old, lived in Kibbutz Nir Oz with her young family. On that fateful October morning, they huddled in their safe room as sirens wailed. Around 10:00 AM, terrorists on a tractor abducted Shiri and her two sons - four-year-old Ariel and nine-month-old Kfir. Video footage of their capture spread across social media, becoming one of the most haunting images of that day.

Throughout the past year, the Bibas family - particularly the red-haired children - became powerful symbols in the campaign to bring the hostages home. Their father Yarden, who was captured separately, was recently released in the latest exchange deal. While Hamas had previously claimed the mother and children died in captivity, they never provided evidence, and Israel had refused to officially acknowledge these claims until now.

Oded Lifshitz: A Life Cut Short

Oded Lifshitz, 84, was taken from Nir Oz alongside his wife Yocheved on October 7th. While Yocheved was freed in the initial exchanges last year, Oded remained in captivity. His family released a statement: "These hours are unbearable. After learning that our beloved Oded is among the deceased hostages returning tomorrow, we're grappling with a reality we prayed would never come. For 502 days, we held onto hope for a different outcome. Until we have absolute confirmation, our journey isn't over - and even then, we'll continue fighting until every last hostage returns home."

The Return Protocol

The transfer will follow strict procedures: The Red Cross will receive the remains inside Gaza, after which they'll be placed in coffins draped with Israeli flags. A military rabbi will recite Psalms and the El Malei Rachamim prayer before the coffins are transported directly to Abu Kabir Forensic Institute for identification.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum responded: "While this brings unbearable grief, it also ends the torturous uncertainty these families have endured for 502 days. But 69 hostages remain in Hamas captivity with no release date in sight. We urge our leaders to accelerate negotiations - we cannot risk losing more lives or having more remains disappear."

Per the latest agreement between Israel and Hamas, additional remains will be returned during subsequent phases scheduled for next Saturday and Thursday.

A Nation's Grief

This situation highlights what President Herzog addressed yesterday at Rome's Great Synagogue: "These days emphasize two absolute truths: First, our supreme duty to bring back all our kidnapped brothers and sisters. Every second they remain in the hands of these terrorist monsters puts their lives at risk. Second, we face absolute and cruel evil - one that murders, tortures, and kidnaps mothers and babies driven by murderous jihadist motivation, evil that massacres entire families and continues to commit crimes against humanity even at this very moment."

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum maintains that time is critical: "We cannot afford delays. Every passing day risks more lives lost and more families shattered. All hostages must come home now."