IDF Confirms Brutal Murder of Bibas Kids in Gaza Captivity; Netanyahu Demands Hamas Return Shiri Bibas’ Remains

IDF Confirms Brutal Murder of Bibas Kids in Gaza Captivity; Netanyahu Demands Hamas Return Shiri Bibas’ Remains  

Edited by: Fern Sidman

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) officially confirmed on Friday that four-year-old Ariel Bibas and ten-month-old Kfir Bibas were brutally beaten and murdered by Hamas terrorists while in captivity in Gaza in November 2023. According to a report on VIN News, the confirmation comes following an extensive forensic identification process carried out by experts at the National Center of Forensic Medicine, in coordination with the Israel Police.

According to the information provided in the VIN News report, Hamas was obligated to return the remains of four fallen hostages in the latest hostage exchange agreement. However, instead of returning Shiri Bibas, the terror group handed over the remains of an unidentified individual who was not among the known hostages.

Coordinator of of negotiations for the missing and captives Gal Hirsch told i24NEWS: “Kfir and Ariel were brutally murdered in captivity. Hamas did not return their mother Shiri. Israel conveyed furious messages to the mediators over the violation.”

Hirsch spoke at length with the American envoy for hostages Adam Boehler. Earlier, he met with the Bibas family for a couple of hours with the shocking news. Israel insists on holding the release of the hostages on Saturday but demands that Shiri be returned home, according to i24NEWS. Israel is furious over the incidents and is shocked by the brutal murder of the children. The evidence leaves no room for doubt over the circumstances surrounding their death.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Friday that Israel will make Hamas pay for its failure to return the body of hostage Shiri Bibas, as previously agreed in a hostage exchange deal. According to a report on Reuters, Netanyahu issued a video statement in which he condemned Hamas’ “cruel and evil violation” of the agreement and promised decisive action to recover Bibas’ body along with all remaining hostages, both living and deceased.

In his statement, Netanyahu reinforced Israel’s determination to bring back all hostages and to ensure that Hamas faces severe repercussions for breaking the agreement. Reuters quoted the Prime Minister as saying: “We will act with determination to bring Shiri home along with all our hostages—both living and dead—and ensure Hamas pays the full price for this cruel and evil violation of the agreement.”

Netanyahu’s strong rhetoric signals that Israel may respond militarily or apply additional pressure on Hamas through diplomatic and intelligence channels to retrieve the hostages.

According to the Reuters report, Hamas has not yet issued any public statement regarding Israel’s accusation. However, the group’s actions threaten to destabilize the fragile ceasefire brokered last month with U.S. backing and mediation efforts from Qatar and Egypt.

It remains unclear whether this violation will impact the scheduled release of six additional living hostages due to be freed on Saturday, or whether it will disrupt talks for a second phase of the ceasefire agreement. The Reuters report emphasized that these negotiations, expected to begin in the coming days, are already highly sensitive, and Hamas’ failure to uphold its commitments could derail further diplomatic progress.

With Hamas’ credibility further undermined, the Reuters report indicated that international mediators now face increased difficulty in facilitating future hostage exchanges. The refusal to return Shiri Bibas’ body raises serious concerns about Hamas’ willingness to comply with any future agreements—particularly regarding the potential next phase of ceasefire negotiations.

While Reuters noted that the Israeli government has not yet announced a formal response, there is growing speculation that this incident could impact Israel’s approach to both negotiations and military strategy.

The news has also deepened the grief of the Bibas family, who had held onto hope that Ariel and Kfir would be found alive.

As reported by VIN News, the Bibas children, along with their mother, Shiri Bibas, 33, were kidnapped from their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz during the October 7th Hamas terror attack on Israel. Their father, Yarden Bibas, was taken separately while attempting to defend his family from the assailants.

While Yarden Bibas was eventually released on February 1, 2025, as part of a hostage exchange deal, Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir remained in captivity. The devastating confirmation that the two children were murdered in November has left their father and extended family in unimaginable mourning.

The IDF condemned Hamas’ actions as a “severe violation of the agreement”, emphasizing that Hamas has repeatedly broken international humanitarian law by withholding information about hostages and mistreating those in captivity.

Military officials further confirmed to VIN News that the forensic examinations were conducted using the most advanced identification methods available, ensuring that the remains were conclusively identified as those of Ariel and Kfir Bibas.

The process of confirming the deaths of Ariel and Kfir involved extensive forensic cross-referencing, with experts first identifying Ariel, followed by confirming Kfir’s remains. VIN News reported that intelligence findings further corroborated the forensic evidence, leading the IDF to publicly confirm the tragic news.

This revelation has sent shockwaves across Israel and the international community, with world leaders and human rights organizations condemning the sheer brutality of Hamas’ actions.

In light of Hamas’ continued refusal to release hostages, the IDF—working in coordination with U.S. officials—has demanded the immediate return of Shiri Bibas along with all remaining captives. The VIN News report confirmed that this message is being directly communicated to Hamas and will also be publicly broadcast in both English and Arabic to maximize international pressure.

The diplomatic efforts to secure the release of the remaining hostages have been intensified following this latest revelation, with Israel insisting that every hostage—living or deceased—must be returned to their families.

The VIN News report highlighted the widespread condemnation of Hamas’ atrocities, with leaders across the globe denouncing the terror group’s deliberate targeting of innocent civilians, including babies and young children.

The IDF reaffirmed its commitment to securing the release of all hostages, stating: “We share in the deep grief of the Bibas family and remain fully committed to bringing every last hostage home.”

The murder of Ariel and Kfir Bibas has drawn international attention to the inhumane actions of Hamas, reinforcing Israel’s determination to eliminate the terror group’s capacity to harm civilians and ensure that no other family suffers such an unimaginable loss.https://youtu.be/yyKkBOZldjU