Hamas has announced that it will release the bodies of four hostages, including two of the youngest captives—9-month-old Kfir Bibas and his 4-year-old brother Ariel—at the time of their abduction during the October 7th attack. Their mother, Shiri, was also among the dead, according to Hamas, though Israel has not confirmed this claim.
As reported by the BBC, Hamas asserts that the Bibas family was killed by Israeli airstrikes, with no independent verification, as the truth remains shrouded in the fog of war. Their father, Yarden, was freed earlier this month, but his freedom is now tainted by an unimaginable grief—his family will not be returning home.
Per CNN, Hamas will return the bodies of Shiri Bibas and her two babies, Kfir and Ariel this Thursday February 20th.
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) February 18, 2025
Our hearts are broken for the family. pic.twitter.com/YzrYSYpgDy
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This conflict has seen countless moments of devastation, and yet, a glimmer of hope remains. In addition to the release of the bodies, Hamas has pledged to free six living hostages on Saturday—double the original plan—in exchange for Israel’s release of all Palestinian women and minors detained since last October.
An Israeli official told Reuters that deceased hostages would undergo identification in Israel before being named. Meanwhile, the Bibas family issued a statement, saying, “In the past few hours, we have been in turmoil following Hamas spokesperson’s announcement about the planned return of our Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir this Thursday as part of the hostages’ remains release phase.” They added, “We want to make it clear that while we are aware of these reports, we have not yet received any official confirmation regarding this matter. Until we receive definitive confirmation, our journey is not over.”
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar also commented on the broader ceasefire discussions, stating, “If we will see there is a constructive dialogue with a possible horizon of getting to an agreement (then) we will make this timeframe work longer.”
While every hostage return is a step toward some form of resolution, it is painfully clear that the cycle of violence is far from over. Israel remains firm in its position that Hamas must be eliminated from Gaza, and negotiations for a broader ceasefire continue to stall.
From a biblical perspective, the persecution of Israel is not a new phenomenon. Scripture foretells that in the last days, Israel will face great tribulation, yet God’s hand remains upon His chosen people. Zechariah 12:3 declares, “On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations.”
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James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.
