JERUSALEM — The stays of a mom of two younger boys who have been taken to Gaza collectively at the beginning of the Israel-Hamas conflict have been returned to Israel, bringing the overall nearer to the 33 hostages alleged to be launched below the ceasefire that began final month.
The plight of Ariel and Kfir Bibas captivated Israelis because the boys have been taken throughout Hamas’ lethal assault on Oct. 7, 2023. Israel recognized the boys and one other hostage, Oded Lifshitz, who was 83 when he was kidnapped, after their stays have been handed over Thursday. The stays of the boys’ mom, Shiri Bibas, have been handed over individually after an preliminary mix-up with one other physique.
Within the first section of the ceasefire deal, a complete of 33 hostages in Gaza — eight of whom are lifeless — have been alleged to be freed in change for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. 5 Thai residents who have been working in Israel on the day of the assault have been freed final month as a part of a separate deal.
Hamas-led militants took 251 hostages throughout their Oct. 7, 2023, assault that launched the conflict in Gaza. Greater than 60 hostages stay in Gaza, though about half are believed to be lifeless. The others have been launched, rescued, or their our bodies recovered.
Israel’s navy marketing campaign has killed over 48,000 Palestinians, in accordance with Gaza’s Well being Ministry, which doesn’t say what number of have been fighters however says greater than half have been ladies or youngsters.
Right here’s a take a look at the hostages returned to date:
Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas
The our bodies of Ariel and Kfir Bibas have been returned Thursday and the stays of their mom, Shiri Bibas, have been returned Friday. Hamas mentioned the three have been killed in an Israeli airstrike. Shiri’s husband, Yarden, was additionally kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Ounceson Oct. 7, 2023, and was launched alive earlier this month.
A video of the household’s abduction confirmed a terrified Shiri Bibas swaddling her two redheaded sons in a blanket and being carried away by militants. The footage ricocheted world wide within the hours after the assault.
Ariel was 4 years previous on the time and Kfir was 9 months previous, making him the youngest captive taken by Hamas. Ariel Bibas liked Batman and household images confirmed the 4 Bibases dressed because the character. Kfir, the toddler with pink hair and a toothless smile, turned a logo throughout Israel for the emotions of helplessness and anger over the hostages’ captivity.
Oded Lifshitz, 84
The physique of Oded Lifshitz, one of many oldest hostages held by the militants, was returned Thursday, his household confirmed. He was taken captive from his residence in Kibbutz Nir Oz, alongside along with his spouse, Yocheved Lifshitz, who was freed throughout a weeklong ceasefire in November 2023.
His household mentioned in a press release that they had “hoped and prayed a lot for a special consequence.”
“Now we are able to mourn the husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather who has been lacking from us since October 7,” they mentioned. “Our household’s therapeutic course of will start now and won’t finish till the final hostage is returned.”
Oded and Yocheved Lifshitz are among the many founders of Nir Oz. Oded, a journalist, campaigned for the popularity of Palestinian rights and peace between Arabs and Jews. In retirement, he drove to the Erez border crossing on the northern fringe of the Gaza Strip as soon as every week to ferry Palestinians to medical appointments in Israel as a part of a bunch known as On the Solution to Restoration.
Oded took satisfaction in his work serving to the historically nomadic Bedouin individuals of the Negev Desert, his daughter instructed The Related Press, describing a case that went to Israel’s Excessive Courtroom and resulted within the return of a few of their land.
Sagui Dekel-Chen, 36
An Israeli-American, Chen was working exterior on his pet undertaking, bus conversions, when militants stormed his kibbutz. He instructed his spouse, Avital, to cover within the secure room with their two daughters. Chen, one of many first individuals to boost alarm of the infiltration on the kibbutz, was taken captive.
Avital was seven months pregnant on the time of the assault; she gave beginning to a 3rd daughter, Shachar Mazal, in December 2023.
Chen is an avid tennis participant who co-founded an arts heart for younger individuals in southern Israel, in accordance with the Hostages and Lacking Households Discussion board, an advocacy group representing the households of hostages,
Iair Horn, 46
Horn is an Israel-Argentinian who was taken captive alongside along with his brother, Eitan Horn, who was staying with him on the time. Eitan Horn stays in captivity and his identify will not be on the listing of hostages to be launched through the ceasefire’s first section.
Iair Horn managed the kibbutz pub and is a fan of the native soccer staff in Beer Sheba, in accordance with the hostages discussion board. Pals gathered on the kibbutz pub on Nir Ouncesto observe Horn’s launch from captivity and to toast his return, in accordance with Israeli media.
Alexander (Sasha) Troufanov, 29
Sasha Trufanov, an Israeli-Russian, was taken hostage together with three members of his household: grandmother Irena Tati, mom Yelena (Lena) and girlfriend Sapir Cohen. His father, Vitaly Trufanov, was killed on Oct. 7, 2023. The remainder of his household was freed throughout a weeklong ceasefire in November 2023.
Sasha Troufanov works as an engineer for Amazon, in accordance with the hostages discussion board. His household immigrated to Israel from the Soviet Union 25 years in the past.
He was believed to be held by Palestinian Islamic Jihad, one other militant group in Gaza, which has launched a number of movies of him in captivity, together with one simply hours earlier than his launch.
Eli Sharabi, 52
Eli Sharabi was taken captive by the militants from Kibbutz Beeri, a communal farm that was one of many hardest hit within the Hamas assault. His British-born spouse, Lianne, and their teenage daughters, Noiya and Yahel, have been killed by militants whereas hiding of their secure room. His brother, Yossi Sharabi, who lived subsequent door, was killed in captivity. Hamas militants are holding his physique, in accordance with the Hostages Discussion board.
Eli Sharabi’s residence bore marks from the assault months later. AP journalists noticed bullet holes within the partitions and the shattered oven and TV screens. Close by houses have been torched by militants and their roofs blasted off throughout preventing on Oct. 7.
Ohad Ben Ami, 56
Ohad Ben Ami, a father to 3, was taken captive along with his spouse, Raz, from Kibbutz Beeri, the place he was an accountant. Raz Ben Ami was launched through the weeklong ceasefire in November 2023.
The hostages discussion board described Ohad Ben Ami as a “passionate nature fanatic” and the “cornerstone of his household.”
Or Levy, 34
Or Levy was pulled out by the militants from a bomb shelter close to the Nova music pageant in southern Israel. His spouse, Einav Levy, was killed through the assault. Their son Almog, now 3, has been within the care of family members because the assault.
Levy was taken captive alongside American-Israeli Hersh Goldberg-Polin in addition to two different hostages — Eliya Cohen and Alon Ohel. Goldberg-Polin, whose mother and father staged a high-profile marketing campaign for his launch, was killed in Hamas captivity.
Or Levy is from the town of Rishon Lezion, the place he labored as a pc programmer for a startup.
Yarden Bibas, 35
The discharge of Yarden Bibas dimmed hopes that his spouse and kids have been nonetheless alive in Gaza.
Hamas has claimed that the three have been killed in an Israeli airstrike. Israel has not confirmed that, however a navy spokesperson mentioned final month that the federal government was “extraordinarily involved” about their welfare.
Yarden Bibas was taken from Kibbutz Nir Ounceson Oct. 7. Pictures from the kidnapping present him wounded, bleeding from the top.
Keith Siegel, 65
Keith Siegel, from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was kidnapped along with his spouse, Aviva Siegel, from Kibbutz Kfar Aza, a communal farming village closely broken by the assault. She was freed through the November 2023 ceasefire deal, and has campaigned internationally for the discharge of her husband and different hostages.
Aviva Siegel mentioned that she was held hostage together with her husband throughout her 51 days in captivity. She mentioned she took consolation from having her husband by her aspect as they have been moved from tunnel to tunnel, the 2 given nearly no meals or water. Her parting phrases to him have been, “Be robust for me.”
Ofer Kalderon, 54
Ofer Kalderon, a French-Israeli hostage, was taken captive from Kibbutz Nir Oz. His teenage youngsters, Sahar and Erez, have been additionally kidnapped, however they have been freed through the weeklong ceasefire in 2023.
Arbel Yehoud, 29
Arbel Yehoud was taken hostage together with her boyfriend, Ariel Cunio, from Kibbutz Nir Oz. A 3rd-generation resident of the kibbutz, she loves science and house, and her mates held a public star gazing to mark her birthday in captivity.
Her brother, Dolev Yehoud, was killed on Oct. 7.
Agam Berger, 20
In movies of Agam Berger’s abduction, her face is roofed in blood, although it’ unclear whether it is from her personal wound or these of different troopers.
Berger is a violin participant from a suburb of Tel Aviv who enlisted within the military simply two months earlier than the assault.
Gadi Moses, 80
Gadi Moses was one of many oldest hostages who remained in captivity in Gaza.
He was taken from his residence on Kibbutz Nir Oz, one of many communities hardest-hit within the Hamas-led assault. The hostages discussion board described Moses as an knowledgeable agronomist who lectured on agriculture and helped keep the kibbutz’s neighborhood vegetable backyard.
Moses’ companion, Efrat, was killed through the assault.
Watchara Sriaoun, 33
Within the Oct. 7 assault, militants overran the compound the place agricultural staff lived on Kibbutz Nir Oz. Out of the 16 Thai staff residing there, 11 have been killed and 5, together with Watchara Sriaoun, have been kidnapped.
They have been amongst not less than 31 Thai staff taken within the assault. Within the November 2023 ceasefire, 23 have been launched in a deal negotiated between Thailand and Hamas, with help from Qatar and Iran.
Sathian Suwannakham, 35
Sathian Suwannakham was additionally taken from Nir Oz. The kibbutz has continued to advocate for the discharge of the Thai staff by posting usually about them on social media, along with the Israeli hostages.
Surasak Rumnao, 32
Surasak Rumnao was kidnapped from the city of Yesha, situated close to the southern Gaza Strip.
His mom, Khammee Lamnao, mentioned the Thai Embassy in Israel known as her to let her know her son could be launched.
Pongsak Thaenna, 36
Pongsak Thaenna was additionally taken from the city of Yesha. Thais make up the biggest group of foreigners held in Gaza.
Within the early days after the Oct. 7 assault, then-Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin pressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in cellphone conversations to help the Thai hostages.
Bannawat Saethao, 27
Bannawat Saethao was additionally kidnapped from the city of Yesha.
Liri Albag, 19
Liri Albag, who was amongst these kidnapped from the Nahal Ouncesmilitary base, was featured in a video Hamas launched in early January, filmed below duress. Her household mentioned the video was “troublesome to observe” due to Albag’s clear emotional misery. They have been notably energetic within the protest motion pushing for a take care of Hamas to carry the hostages residence.
“Liri, for those who’re listening to us, inform the others that every one the households are transferring heaven and earth and wish their youngsters residence, and we are going to struggle till all hostages are returned,” her father mentioned in a press release after the video was launched.
Karina Ariev, 20
Karina Ariev was additionally taken from Nahal Oz.
Simply earlier than she was kidnapped, she she despatched a message to her household, saying: “If I don’t dwell, maintain mother and pa all their lives. Don’t hand over, dwell,” in accordance with Israeli media. Her household mentioned she likes to prepare dinner, sing, dance and write poetry.
Daniella Gilboa, 20
Additionally taken from Nahal Oz, Daniella Gilboa was initially named Danielle. Her mother and father modified it after she was taken captive, consistent with a Jewish custom that’s believed to carry God’s safety.
Gilboa, from Petah Tikva, a suburb of Tel Aviv, performed piano and studied music in highschool. She goals of being a singer, in accordance with Israeli media.
Naama Levy, 20
The footage from Naama Levy’s abduction, during which she is sporting grey sweatpants coated in blood, was proven world wide.
Levy, amongst these taken from Nahal Oz, is a triathlete. When she was youthful, she participated within the “Arms of Peace” delegation, which brings collectively Individuals, Israelis and Palestinians to work on coexistence.
Romi Gonen, 24
Romi Gonen was taken from the Nova music pageant in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. She spoke to her household for almost 5 hours as militants marauded via the pageant grounds. She instructed them that roads clogged with deserted vehicles made escape not possible and that she would search shelter in some bushes.
Her father, Eitan Goren, mentioned she survived partly by studying Arabic, because it was the one option to talk together with her captors. “I simply take pleasure in being together with her even in silence, touching, hugging, watching her,” he mentioned, every week after her launch. “I missed it a lot.”
Emily Damari, 28
Emily Damari is a British-Israeli citizen kidnapped from her house on Kibbutz Kfar Aza. She lived in a small house in a neighborhood for younger adults, the closest a part of the kibbutz to Gaza. Militants broke via the border fence of the kibbutz and ransacked the neighborhood.
The day after her launch, Emily’s mom, Mandy, mentioned her daughter was “in excessive spirits and on the street to restoration.”
Doron Steinbrecher, 31
Doron Steinbrecher is a veterinary nurse who loves animals, and a neighbor to Damari in Kibbutz Kfar Aza. Steinbrecher holds each Israeli and Romanian citizenship.
Steinbrecher was featured in a video launched by Hamas in January 2024, together with two feminine Israeli troopers. Her brother mentioned the video gave them hope that she was alive however sparked concern as a result of she appeared drained, weak and gaunt.
—Related Press author Haruka Nega in Bangkok, Thailand, contributed to this report.
