TRANSCRIPT
Israel is in mourning as the bodies of Israeli hostages killed in Gaza are finally brought home.
Hamas, in a move condemned as inhumane by the UN among others, paraded the coffins before a cheering crowd of thousands of Palestinians before placing them on a stage as music played.
The coffins held the bodies of 32-year-old Shiri Bibas' two young children, Kfir and Ariel, as well as 83-year-old Oded Lifshitz, and an unidentified body.
Ms Bibas was supposed to be released along with her children, but was not.
Behind the coffins on stage, a banner showed an image of Benjamin Netanyahu as a vampire, his fangs dripping blood into a pool that contained the faces of the four hostages.
In Hebrew, Arabic and English, written next to it: "The war criminal Netanyahu and his Nazi army killed them with missiles from Zionist warplanes."
Israeli channels did not broadcast the handover.
Kfir Bibas was just nine months old when he was taken, his brother Ariel only four.
They were kidnapped with their mother on the 7th October 2023 by Hamas militants.
Israeli is now demanding the immediate release of Ms Bibas' body, stating if it is not returned, the terms of the ceasefire agreement will have been violated.
Stephan Dujarric, spokesman for U-N Secretary General Antonio Guterres, says the display of the coffins containing the dead hostages is appalling.
“We have seen how Hamas handed over the bodies of a mother and two children from the Bibas family, as well as that of an 84-year-old man. I can tell you that the Secretary-General condemns the parading of bodies and displaying of coffins of the deceased hostages in this manner this morning, which is both abhorrent and appalling. Under international law, any handover of the remains of deceased must comply with the prohibition of cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment, ensuring respect for their dignity and the deceased and their families.”
In Tel Aviv, hundreds gathered to view the motorcade containing the remains of the hostages as it made its way to the National Institute of Forensic Medicine at the Ministry of Health.
They stood in silence, waving Israeli flags, as music played.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the nation is united in sorrow.
“My brothers and sisters, dear citizens of Israel. On this day we are all united. We are all united in unbearable grief. Every home in Israel bows its head today. We bow our heads at the heavy loss of our four hostages. We all hurt in pain that is laced with rage. We all rage over the monsters of Hamas. The four coffins of our loved ones oblige us, more than ever, to promise, to vow, that what happened on October 7th will never happen again, ever.”
Using biblical references, Mr Netanyahu vows there will be retribution.
“Our loved ones' blood is shouting at us from the soil and is obliging us to settle the score with the despicable murderers, and we will. The Lord is a God who avenges. 'Oh God who avenges, shine forth' (Psalm 94). Our heart is fractured but our spirit will not break. And with this spirit we will bring back all of our hostages, will annihilate the murderers, will eliminate Hamas. And together, if God is willing, we will ensure our future.”
At the National Institute of Forensic Medicine, its head, Chen Gugel confirms that Mr Lifshitz is among those whose body was released by Hamas.
“We offer our deepest condolences to the Lifshitz family. Today, 503 days after the October 7th massacre, the body of Mr. Lifshitz, who was murdered more than a year ago in captivity, has been identified. Since October 7th, 2023, the team of the Israel National Center of Forensic Medicine is dedicating itself to identifying all October 7th victims and thus provide closure for the families and proper burial.”
Oded Lifshitz was 83 when was abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz along with his wife, Yocheved, who was later freed during a ceasefire in November 2023.
A journalist and lifelong advocate for peace, he campaigned for Palestinian rights and reconciliation between Arabs and Jews.
Hamas claims he and the Bibas family were killed, along with their guards, in Israeli airstrikes.
Meanwhile, Jewish communities in London gathered to mourn the four hostages.
Dressed in black and carrying Israeli flags adorned with yellow ribbons, they placed four black coffins on the ground as onlookers wiped away tears.
Among those gathered is Phil Rosenberg, President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews.
“We are standing here to stand with their families in their hour of hope or grief. And we are standing here to make sure that we campaign for every single one of the hostages be brought home. Hamas has done terrible thing, they've kidnapped babies, toddlers, mothers, grandparents and we are here to stand with them and are here to call for them to be brought home now.”
Hamas signalled on Wednesday that it was willing to release all remaining hostages in Gaza in a single swap under the next phase of the ceasefire deal.
The offer, involving over 60 people, is conditional on a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a permanent end to the war.
Since the war began on the 7th October 2023, more than 48,000 Palestinians have been killed, over half of them women and children.
Another 111,600 have been injured.
The conflict erupted after Hamas’ cross-border attack, which left more than 1,200 Israelis and others dead, and around 250 people taken hostage
Meanwhile, Israeli police are investigating explosions on empty buses in central Israel, suspected to be a militant attack.
Officers rushed to Bat Yam, near Tel Aviv, searching for suspects while bomb disposal teams combed the area for more devices.
Oshri Basson of Israel Fire and Rescue Services confirmed no injuries had been reported.
“Around 20:30 we received several calls about a blast in the area of Dan terminal in Amal St., Bat Yam industrial area. Fire and Rescue Services who arrived at the scene noted the initial status: An articulated bus, diesel-driven, fully burning. Next to it there was a vehicle that was seemingly... there are shock damages that could indicate that there was a blast here. Extinguishing, a professional response was given here at the site with the help of two regions that deployed at the site. There is full control of the site.”
Police are urging the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious objects.
The Shin Bet internal security agency has now taken over the investigation.
