The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Friday that Kfir and Ariel Bibas, two young boys kidnapped by Hamas, were killed by the group "with their bare hands." Kfir was nine months old and Ariel was four at the time of their abduction. IDF Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari asserted that Hamas's claims of the brothers' death resulting from an IDF airstrike are false, emphasizing that they were murdered in captivity in November 2023.
Hagari stated that the IDF's conclusions were based on forensic assessments and intelligence. He accused Hamas of attempting to conceal the circumstances of the boys' deaths by manipulating their remains to suggest they were victims of an airstrike. The remains were identified by the National Institute of Forensic Medicine alongside the Israel Police.
The IDF also clarified that the body purported to be that of the boys' mother, Shiri Bibas, was not her or any other hostage. The remains were returned in a ceremony that included a propaganda display by Hamas, showcasing the coffins and accusing Israeli leadership of war crimes.
Hagari condemned the actions of Hamas, declaring the abduction and murder of the Bibas brothers and another hostage, Oded Lifshitz, as crimes against humanity. He urged global condemnation of these acts and reiterated calls for the release of Shiri Bibas.
Following the handover of the remains, the coffins were transported to the IDF for examination and wrapped in Israeli flags, marking a somber conclusion to a prolonged period of uncertainty for the families involved. The incident has contributed to mounting international outrage, with the total number of children reported killed in the conflict since the October 7 attacks now at 55.