Hamas terrorists brutally murdered Israeli brothers Ariel and Kfir Bibas with their bare hands, Israel declared Friday — despite the terrorist group long claiming the youngsters were killed in a targeted airstrike carried out by the Jewish state.
“Ariel and Kfir Bibas were murdered by terrorists in cold blood,” the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement on X.
“The terrorists did not shoot the two young boys — they killed them with their bare hands.
“Afterward, they committed horrific acts to cover up these atrocities.”
The shocking revelation was made after the youngsters’ remains were in two of the four coffins returned to Israel — and then positively identified — on Thursday as part of the ongoing cease-fire deal, according to Israeli officials.
“According to the assessment of professional officials, based on the intelligence available to us and forensic findings from the identification process, Ariel and Kfir Bibas were brutally murdered by terrorists in captivity in November 2023,” an IDF spokesperson said in a statement.
The Bibas family, who became global symbols of the plight of Israeli hostages, had long held out hope that the boys and their mother, Shiri, were still alive after they were kidnapped by Hamas from their home in the attack that started the war.
Without offering proof, the terror group had claimed in November 2023 that the kids — ages 4 and 10 months — and their mother were taken out in an Israeli airstrike.
Israel, though, only officially confirmed their demise this week after revealing that the boys and their mom would be among the four hostages Hamas had agreed to turn over on Thursday.
While Israeli officials positively identified the boys and another hostage, 83-year-old Oded Lifshitz, the fourth casket — which was supposed to hold their mother — contained an “anonymous, unidentified body.”
“During the identification process, it was determined that the additional body received is not that of Shiri Bibas, and no match was found for any other hostage,” officials said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday vowed revenge over what he called a “cruel and malicious violation” of the cease-fire deal.
Netanyahu accused the terrorists of acting “in an unspeakably cynical manner” by placing the unidentified remains in the coffin instead of Bibas.
“We will work with determination to bring Shiri home together with all our hostages — both living and dead — and ensure that Hamas pays the full price for this cruel and malicious violation of the agreement,” he said.
“The sacred memory of Oded Lifshitz and Ariel and Kfir Bibas will be forever enshrined in the heart of the nation. May God avenge their blood. And so we will avenge.”
The trio became an enduring symbol of heartbreak for Israel early on in the war after footage and images emerged of Shiri clutching her two boys tightly while being surrounded by terrorists.
Separately, Shiri’s husband and the boys’ father, Yarden Bibas, was also taken hostage on Oct. 7 after he left their home in Nir Oz to protect his family.
Yarden was released alive by Hamas on Feb. 1.
During the father’s captivity, Hamas had forced him to announce the death of his loved ones in a propaganda video.
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the Bibas family during this incredibly difficult time and remain committed to doing everything possible to ensure Shiri and all the hostages are brought home at the earliest opportunity,” the IDF said.
