The remains of four Israeli hostages - Kfir Bibas, Ariel Bibas, Shiri Bibas, and Oded Lifshitz - were transferred to Israeli custody on the morning of February 20 after being held by Hamas in Gaza since their October 7 abduction from Kibbutz Nir Oz.

Hamas staged a ceremony featuring the victims' coffins before transferring them to the Red Cross. In return for the four bodies of Israeli captives, 800 Palestinian detainees will be released on February 22, two days after the handover, the Palestinian Quds News network claimed on February 20. Hamas said resistance groups in Gaza protected the Israeli captives and treated them humanely. However, the Israeli forces killed them along with their captors during the assault. Israel previously denied it killed its citizens in airstrikes on northern Gaza. 

“Israel has received, through the Red Cross, the coffins of four deceased abductees,” the Prime Minister's Office confirmed in a public statement as relayed by i24NEWS.

“The coffins were handed over to the IDF and Shin Bet forces inside the Gaza Strip, from where they will be transferred to Israel to the Ministry of Health's National Center for Forensic Medicine,” the report added. 

“The families of the abductees have been informed, and our hearts go out to them at this difficult time. The public is asked to respect the families' privacy and refrain from spreading rumours and information that is not official and well-founded.

We will continue to update you with reliable information as needed,” the statement continued.

Lifshitz, an 83-year-old founding member of Nir Oz, was kidnapped alongside his wife, Yocheved, who was released after 17 days in captivity.

Shiri Bibas, 33, and her sons Ariel, 5, and Kfir, who was nine months old at the time of their abduction, were also among the deceased. The children were the youngest hostages held by Hamas.

This comes after their father, Yarden Bibas, was released approximately three weeks ago after being kidnapped separately.

During the handover ceremony by Hamas in Gaza, the coffins of the four hostages were on display while video footage of the victims was played. Israel's National Center for Forensic Medicine is set to analyse the victims’ remains before official confirmation is provided to the families.

While US President Trump’s Gaza resettlement plan has come under fire, it appears as if the US leader remains unwavering in his support for Israel, giving a deadline for Hamas to release all of the remaining hostages, after which he would support Israel’s recommencement of combat.

Although Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the IDF is prepared to continue the war should Hamas refuse to comply with the hostage deal, it appears as if both sides are prioritising the completion of the ceasefire agreement over restoring hostilities.