Hamas fighters in the Gaza Strip killed brothers Ariel and Kfir Bibas only weeks after they were kidnapped during the terrorists’ Oct. 7, 2023, rampage into southern Israel. A forensic examination of Ariel, 4, and 10-month-old Kfir, showed they weren’t killed in a later airstrike as the Palestinian militants claimed, officials with the Israel Defense Forces said Friday.
Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, an IDF spokesman, said Hamas killed the two tots “in cold blood.”
“The terrorists did not shoot the two young boys; they killed them with their bare hands,” Adm. Hagari said in a televised statement. “Afterwards, [Hamas] committed horrific acts to cover these atrocities.”
Kfir was 9 months old when the family, including father Yarden and mother Shiri, were abducted at Kibbutz Nir Oz, one of a string of communities near Gaza overrun by Hamas-led attackers.
IDF officials said they made the conclusion based on forensic findings from the identification process and intelligence they gathered since the start of the war with Hamas.
“We have shared these findings, intelligence and forensic, with our partners around the globe so that they can verify it, and that the entire world will know exactly how the Hamas terrorist organization operates,” Adm. Hagari said.
On Thursday, Hamas handed over the tiny bodies in what IDF officials called a “cynical and cruel ceremony” in Gaza. Their mother was meant to be returned to Israel along with her children as part of Israel’s ceasefire with Hamas. But IDF officials accused Hamas of violating the agreement.
“The body that Hamas falsely claimed was Shiri was not hers and not of any other hostage,” Adm. Hagari said. “Hamas sent over the body of an anonymous woman. This is further evidence of [their] barbaric cruelty.”
Another body returned on Thursday was that of 83-year-old Oded Lifshitz. He and his wife were taken hostage by the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization from their Nir Oz home. The forensic examination confirmed that Mr. Lifshitz was killed while in captivity in November 2023.
“The abduction and murder in captivity of Oded, Ariel and baby Kfir, all innocent civilians, are crimes against humanity. The whole world must condemn these barbaric acts of terror,” Adm. Hagari said. “We demand that Hamas release Shiri [Bibas] in accordance with the agreement.”
Yarden Bibas was captured separately from his wife and sons. He was returned from Gaza this month after spending 484 days in captivity, IDF officials said.
“We will do everything we can to bring Shiri home and all of the 69 other hostages still being held in brutal conditions by Hamas in Gaza,” Adm. Hagari said. “Our mission is not over until every single hostage comes home.”
• Mike Glenn can be reached at mglenn@washingtontimes.com.