As mournful music plays in Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square, bright orange – a symbol of the Bibas family’s ginger hair – and yellow balloons alongside Israeli flags featuring the yellow ribbon billow in the wind. Surrounding screens show photos and videos of the Bibas family and Oded Lifshitz before they were brutally abducted from their homes. People gather in silence and sobs, patiently awaiting the convoy that would transport the deceased hostages’ bodies on Feb. 20.
Around 58 miles away in Khan Younis, Gaza, the bodies of hostages that we have waited for 503 grief-stricken days to return were cruelly paraded in a grotesque ceremony. These were the very bodies that people in Hostage Square were beautifully memorializing. Music blared in the background at the return site in Khan Younis, and cheers echoed as mobs of Palestinians waited near a stage to witness the handover, some even posing for photos and videos.
I was repulsed by this sickening handover and unable to fathom how humanity could commit such cruelty. On the contrary, I found some comfort in the fact that the Bibas family would be able to give Shiri, Kfir and Ariel—who were 32, four and not even nine months when taken—a proper burial. However, to my shock, the family won’t even be able to give them this basic human right, as the body that was said to be Shiri’s turned out not to be hers.
The Israeli military announced in a statement that through Israel’s National Center of Forensic Medicine’s identification process, it was determined that the body received was not that of Shiri Bibas.
The identity of the body still remains unclear, with reports saying that the DNA did not match that of any of the other female hostages. Hamas has commented saying that there may have been a mix-up in bodies, and has requested that Israel send back the body of the Palestinian woman who was in the casket. This excuse and request are completely ridiculous. These are not toys being traded; these are humans.
Israel has notified mediators of this massive violation of the agreement and is demanding that Shiri be released.
“It is an anonymous body without identification,” the IDF said in a statement. “This is a very serious violation by the Hamas terrorist organization, which is required by the agreement to return four dead abductees. We demand that Hamas return Shiri home along with all our abductees.”
For the relatives of the Bibas family who have waited for 503 long and hard days, and specifically requested that the names of the released hostages would not be announced until the bodies were identified, the pain is truly beyond comprehension. For one to try to imagine the shock they must have felt when they found out that it wasn’t Shiri’s body that was in the casket is impossible. Now, they are left wondering what has happened to Shiri and worrying whether her body will ever return.
However, in this moment of deep grief, shock and confusion, the world seems to be silent. Where are the people demanding for Shiri to be released? Where are the self-proclaimed ‘human rights activists’ fighting against the injustice of this handover? This is not just an issue affecting Israelis and Jews; this is a matter of morality. Every person must raise their voice and demand Shiri’s release.
As the 42-day stage of the three-phase ceasefire deal nears its end, there are still hostages who are suffering in captivity, but the agreement is very up in the air. This Saturday, six more alive hostages are set to be released. Unfortunately, if today proved anything, it is that we can not trust that Hamas will follow through on this or any other parts of the deal.
But even during this time of unrest and distrust, we must continue to fight for Shiri and the rest of the hostages’ release. We will not stop fighting until they are all returned. We will stand resolute, unwavering in our determination until Shiri and the rest of the hostages return home.
