Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged retaliation against Hamas following the release of what the group claimed were the bodies of four Israeli hostages. Among them were Kfir Bibas, an infant, and his four-year-old brother, Ariel, the youngest victims taken during Hamas’s brutal attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
In a highly publicized display, Palestinian militants presented four black coffins as armed Hamas fighters and large crowds gathered to witness the event.
The handover drew sharp international condemnation, including from United Nations human rights chief Volker Türk, who called it “abhorrent and cruel,” emphasizing that such acts violate international law.
“Under international law, any handover of the remains of the deceased must comply with the prohibition of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, ensuring respect for the dignity of the deceased and their families,” Türk stated.
As the convoy carrying the coffins passed through the rain near the Gaza border, Israelis lined the roads to pay their respects. One woman, identifying herself only as Efrat, described the nation’s grief: “We stand here together, with a broken heart. The sky is also crying with us, and we pray to see better days.”
In Tel Aviv, crowds gathered in Hostages Square—now a symbol of the ongoing crisis—many openly weeping. Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed the collective sorrow of the nation: “Agony. Pain. There are no words. The hearts of an entire nation lie in tatters.”
Shortly after the remains were returned, Netanyahu released a recorded statement, vowing to eliminate Hamas and ensure such an atrocity never happens again.
“The four coffins oblige us—more than ever—to ensure that there is no repeat of October 7. Our loved ones’ blood is shouting at us from the soil, demanding that we settle the score with the despicable murderers, and we will.”
Israeli officials have repeatedly declared their intent to dismantle Hamas and secure the return of the remaining hostages. Around 250 Israelis were taken during the attack in October 2023, and their fate remains a pressing national concern.
The release of the bodies came as part of a ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt. However, Hamas sent a chilling message during the handover. A militant was photographed standing beside a poster depicting a man towering over Israeli-flag-draped coffins. The text read: “The return of the war = The return of your prisoners in coffins.”