Netanyahu Vows Revenge as Hamas Returns Bodies of Youngest Hostages
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised revenge after Hamas handed over the bodies of four hostages, including a baby and a young child, on Thursday.
According to Reuters, the bodies of 9-month-old Kfir Bibas, his 4-year-old brother Ariel, their mother Shiri, and an 83-year-old man named Oded Lifshitz were returned in a highly publicized event in Gaza. The Bibas family was kidnapped during Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which sparked the ongoing conflict.
Reuters reports that Hamas militants presented the bodies in black coffins during a staged event, with armed fighters and crowds of Palestinians watching.
The United Nations criticized the display, calling it “cruel and degrading” and a violation of international law. UN human rights chief Volker Turk emphasized that such actions must respect the dignity of the deceased and their families.
In Israel, mourners lined the streets near the Gaza border to pay their respects as the coffins passed by. “Our hearts are broken,” said one woman, while Israeli President Isaac Herzog described the nation’s grief as overwhelming.
Netanyahu, in a recorded message, vowed to destroy Hamas and prevent another attack like October 7. “We will settle the score with these murderers,” he said.
The Bibas family became a symbol of the tragedy for many Israelis. Kfir, the youngest hostage, was just nine months old when he was taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz, a community near Gaza that lost a quarter of its residents in the attack. Reuters notes that Hamas had previously claimed the Bibas family died in an Israeli airstrike, but Israel never confirmed this.
Oded Lifshitz, the elderly hostage, was a peace activist and former journalist. His wife, Yocheved, was also kidnapped but released earlier. Lifshitz had criticized Netanyahu’s policies, including his rejection of a two-state solution with Palestinians. According to Reuters, Lifshitz was murdered in captivity by Islamic Jihad, another militant group in Gaza.
The handover of the bodies is part of a ceasefire deal brokered by the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt. Reuters highlights that this marks the first time dead hostages have been returned under the agreement. The deal also includes the release of living hostages, with six expected to be freed on Saturday in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
Negotiations for the next phase of the deal are set to begin soon, focusing on the release of around 60 remaining hostages, fewer than half of whom are believed to be alive.
Reuters reports that Israel insists on the complete destruction of Hamas, while Palestinians in Gaza continue to suffer from the devastating effects of the war, which has killed over 48,000 people, according to Palestinian health authorities.
This tragic event underscores the deep pain and complexity of the conflict. While the return of the hostages’ bodies brings some closure to their families, it also reignites calls for justice and peace.
As Netanyahu vows revenge, the world watches closely, hoping for an end to the violence that has devastated both Israelis and Palestinians.
Credit : Reuters