Israel confirms identities of four dead hostages who will be returned from Gaza

Hamas says all four were had been killed by Israeli fire. Israel had previously said it had “grave concern” for the lives of the Bibas family.

Shiri Bibas was abducted with her children on October 7 2023 (Hostages Family Forum via AP)

The remains of the youngest and one of the oldest captives seized by Hamas during the attack that ignited the war in Gaza are expected to be returned on Thursday, an Israeli official has said.

It was the first Israeli confirmation that the bodies of Ariel and Kfir Bibas, who were four years old and nine months old when they were taken captive on October 7 2023, were being returned along with their mother Shiri.