Kibbutz Nir Oz announced that Shiri Bibas had been murdered in Hamas captivity an hour after the body arrived at the Institute of Forensic Medicine; the Institute has not yet confirmed this.
By NOA FEIGENBAUM, JERUSALEM POST STAFFFEBRUARY 21, 2025 21:11Updated: FEBRUARY 22, 2025 09:41
Kibbutz Nir Oz announced an hour after the body arrived at the Abu Kabir Institute of Forensic Medicine that Shiri Bibas had been murdered in Hamas captivity, Israeli media reported.
The convoy carrying the possible remains of Shiri Bibas arrived at the Institute early on Saturday morning.
The Red Cross announced earlier on Saturday morning that they had handed over the remains to Israeli authorities.
Israel and Hamas senior officials have confirmed that the Red Cross was handed over remains by Hamas’s al-Qassam brigades on Friday evening.
Israelis line up to honor Shiri Bibas as body returned from Gaza on 22 February 2025. (credit: AVSHALOM SASSONI/MAARIV)
Kibbutz Nir Oz
“Kibbutz Nir Oz announces with deep pain and sorrow the murder of the late Shiri Bibas, who was abducted from her home on October 7 and was killed while in captivity in Gaza.”
“Shiri, who was abducted at the age of 32, was born and raised in Nir Oz. For many years, she devoted herself to caring for the children of the kibbutz as part of the educational system, and she was loved by everyone who knew her. In the past two years, she worked in the kibbutz’s accounting department, but above all, she was a devoted mother who dedicated herself to parenting with boundless love.”
“Shiri, along with Yarden, Ariel, and Kfir, loved their home in Nir Oz—the balcony and the lawn where they spent countless happy moments as a family—and from which they were all abducted on October 7. Shiri’s parents, Yossi and Margit Silverman were murdered on that same dreadful day.”
“Today, after 16 months of unbearable hardship, the painful circle has finally been closed for the family, and in the coming days, she will be laid to eternal rest in the Land of Israel, together with her two young sons.”
“Shiri left behind a husband, a sister, nieces and nephews, family, and loving friends who will always remember her for her smile, her kind heart, and the joy of life that she spread to everyone. May the memory of Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir be blessed.”
Identification process
The IDF said that they are in contact with the Bibas family. “We emphasize the family’s request to show responsibility and not publish unauthorized reports, that could harm the efforts,” the IDF said.
Teams at the Institute of Forensic Medicine, including Director Dr. Chen Kugel, specialist doctors, and the DNA laboratory team, arrived at the Institute and are preparing to begin the testing process, the hospital announced.
The Red Cross had informed Israel that Hamas called for them, an Israeli official said.
The Forensic Medicine Center’s teams are preparing for the remains to be identified and give their results as soon as possible, the Health Ministry announced in a statement.
“These are difficult hours of uncertainty,” the Head of the Mental Health Division at the Health Ministry, Dr. Gilad Bodenheimer said. “Uncertainty can and may cause us to become restless and stressed. In order to deal with uncertainty, we naturally and healthily try to cling to every possible certainty.
“We recommend supporting those around us, friends and family, and also distracting ourselves from what is uncertain (such as horror videos, rumors, commentaries or statements by Hamas), by engaging in what is certain and good for us.”
Original remains brought back was not Shiri
The IDF confirmed on Friday morning that the hostage remains released on Thursday by Hamas belonged to Ariel and Kfir Bibas. However, the third body “was not that of Shiri Bibas, and no match was found for any other hostage. It is an anonymous body without identification,” Israel’s military stated.
Hamas added that there was a possibility of “an error or mix-up in the bodies, which may have resulted from the occupation’s targeting and bombing of the location where the family was present along with other Palestinians.”
Hamas then claimed it would carry out its own investigation and would reveal the results.
Israel has used DNA and forensic techniques to confirm that the body is indeed not Shiri Bibas’s. However, Hamas claimed it would carry out its own investigation and would reveal the results.
Mathilda Heller contributed to this article.
Content retrieved from: https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-843215.
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