The remains of the Bibas family, who were taken hostage by Hamas on Oct 7 and died in the terrorists’ captivity, will be returned to Israel on Thursday.

In what is set to be an emotional day of mourning in Israel, the bodies of hostages Shiri Bibas, her children Ariel and Kfir, and Oded Lifshitz will be repatriated.

The public are expected to line the streets from the Kerem Shalom Crossing from Gaza to Abu Kabir, where the bodies will be brought to a forensic laboratory.

The Bibas family and Mr Lifshitz were on Wednesday confirmed to have died while held hostage by Hamas. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said news of their deaths was “heart-shattering”.

Yarden Bibas, the boys’ father and Shiri’s husband, was abducted separately on Oct 7, 2023 and was released from the Gaza Strip in a previous hostage-prisoner exchange on Feb 1.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: “Tomorrow [Thursday] will be a very difficult day for the State of Israel – a heartbreaking day, a day of grief. We are bringing home four of our beloved hostages – fallen heroes.”