Breaking: Body of Shiri Bibas identified, murdered by Hamas

Israeli forensic experts at the Abu Kabir Institute have positively identified the body of Shiri Bibas, who was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz during the October 7 Hamas attack along with her two young sons, Kfir and Ariel.

The announcement from Kibbutz Nir Oz on Saturday night confirmed the devastating news that many had feared. According to initial assessments, Bibas and her children were killed during the early weeks of their captivity in Gaza.

"Tonight our Shiri was returned home," her family said in a statement. "We received the news we had dreaded - Shiri was murdered in captivity and has now returned home to her sons, husband, sister, and all her family to rest. Despite our fears, we had continued to hope we would get to embrace them. Now we are in pain and broken."

The identification comes amid a day that saw the release of six other Israeli hostages from Gaza - Eliya Cohen, Omer Shem Tov, Omer Wenkert, Tal Shoham, Avera Mengistu, and Hisham al-Sayed.

Shiri Bibas, her husband Yarden, and their two sons - 4-year-old Ariel and 10-month-old Kfir - were taken from their home during the October 7 attack. The red hair of Ariel and Kfir and the famous image of Shiri's kidnapping while holding them both in her arms them one of the most recognizable faces among the hostages, with his image frequently displayed at rallies calling for the hostages' release.

Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that forensic evidence indicates the captors killed them and attempted to cover up their deaths. "This horrible and horrific act will not be taken lightly," Katz said in an official statement.

The news has cast a shadow over today's hostage releases, highlighting the ongoing tragedy of those still held in Gaza and those who did not survive their captivity.