Netanyahu Vows to ‘Eliminate Hamas’ After Return of Murdered Hostages

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a defiant message on Thursday following the return of the bodies of four Israeli hostages murdered by Hamas, vowing to eliminate the terrorist group responsible for the October 7 massacre.

“Our heart may be broken but our spirit is not,” Netanyahu said in a video statement. “And with this spirit: We will return all of our hostages. We will destroy the murderers; we will eliminate Hamas. And together, with God’s help, we will ensure our future.”

The bodies of Shiri Bibas, her young children Kfir and Ariel Bibas, and Oded Lifshitz, an 84-year-old journalist and peace activist, were returned to Israel after Hamas staged a grotesque propaganda event in Khan Yunis. During the event, cheering crowds watched as the coffins were paraded on stage, accompanied by upbeat music and anti-Israel imagery.

The Hamas ceremony included a large image of Netanyahu depicted as a vampire, alongside text accusing Israel’s “Nazi Army” of killing the hostages. Signs also blamed the United States, with English-language messages claiming the victims were killed by “USA bombs.”

The spectacle included Red Cross representatives signing documents to receive the bodies, which were then transferred to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). The bodies were examined by a bomb squad before being wrapped in Israeli flags. Somber crowds gathered in Tel Aviv as the remains were transported to the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute for identification.

Netanyahu condemned Hamas in his address, saying, “Today, every home in Israel bows its head. We bow our heads over the heavy loss of four of our hostages. We all feel pain mixed with rage. We are all outraged at the Hamas monsters.”

Lifshitz, who helped found Kibbutz Nir Oz, had long advocated for Palestinians, including transporting sick Gazans to Israeli hospitals. His wife, Yocheved Lifshitz, was also taken hostage but was released in the November 2023 deal. “He fought for the Palestinians his whole life; they betrayed him and took him into hell,” she said.

The Bibas family has become a symbol of the horrors inflicted by Hamas. Nine-month-old Kfir and four-year-old Ariel were kidnapped with their mother, Shiri, during the attack. Heartbreaking footage of Shiri holding her two redheaded boys went viral, highlighting the innocence and tragedy of the victims.

In a chilling twist, Hamas forced Shiri’s husband, Yarden Bibas, to record a video announcing his family’s deaths. Yarden, who was released earlier this month, had clung to hope that his loved ones were still alive.

The Lifshitz family, mourning the loss of Oded, released a statement saying, “503 agonizing days of uncertainty have come to an end. Our family’s healing process will begin now and will not end until the last hostage is returned.”

Netanyahu’s vow to “eliminate Hamas” signals Israel’s renewed commitment to eradicating the terror group, which has targeted Israeli civilians with brutal tactics. “The four coffins of our dear ones require us, more than ever, to ensure, to swear, that what happened on October 7 never recurs,” he said. “We will settle accounts with the depraved murderers.”

As Israel continues its operations in Gaza and strengthens security measures in Judea and Samaria, the world watches closely. The massacre of innocent hostages underscores the urgent need to dismantle Hamas and restore security and peace to the region.

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