In a grotesque display of the most tasteless propaganda and savagery with tinges of mock civilization, Hamas parades coffins of the murdered Israeli hostages, including 3 members of the Bibas family and octogenarian Oded Lifshitz, desecrating the sanctity of life and death. Israel watched in horror and sorrow as the victims returned in coffins, awaiting forensic identification and then burial.

In a chilling spectacle that defies the bounds of human decency, Hamas orchestrated a public parade of coffins purportedly containing the bodies of Israeli hostages, including the tragically slain Bibas family—mother Shiri and her two young sons, Ariel and Kfir. This abhorrent event, held in Gaza’s Khan Younis, was a calculated affront to the very essence of humanity.

The procession, far from a solemn acknowledgment of loss, was a grotesque exhibition. Coffins adorned with images of the deceased were paraded before a crowd, transforming a moment that should evoke universal compassion into a macabre display of propaganda. The International Committee of the Red Cross, entrusted with the transfer of the bodies, was compelled to navigate this theater of the absurd, undermining the dignity owed to the dead and their grieving families.

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, condemned the spectacle, stating, “The parading of coffins apparently containing the bodies of hostages who died in Hamas captivity violates international law.” This brazen act not only desecrates the memory of the deceased but also inflicts additional anguish upon their loved ones, weaponizing grief in a perverse display of power.

Following the return of the bodies, Israel has undertaken the somber task of preparing for the funerals of Shiri Bibas and her sons, Ariel and Kfir, as well as 83-year-old Oded Lifshitz. The remains were transported to Tel Aviv for forensic examination to confirm their identities, a process expected to take up to 48 hours. Once identification is complete, the families will proceed with private funeral arrangements, honoring their loved ones in accordance with Jewish traditions. The Israeli government has pledged support to the bereaved families during this period of profound grief.

In the broader context of the ongoing ceasefire agreement, discussions are intensifying regarding the progression to Phase Two of the deal. Hamas has expressed a willingness to release all remaining hostages in a single exchange, contingent upon Israel agreeing to a permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of its forces from Gaza. Israeli officials, however, remain cautious, emphasizing the necessity of ensuring long-term security and the complete dismantling of Hamas’s military capabilities before committing to further concessions.