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Israelis’ Worst Nightmare Made True: Black Coffins Return From Gaza

As hundreds of Israelis gathered at the Hostages’ Square in Tel Aviv, sobbing could be seen and heard from the grieving crowd, marking one of the most traumatic days in the nation’s history. Among the hushed voices, the sentiments of revolt, anger, and sadness were palpable, and news channels from around the world were in Tel Aviv to document Israelis and supporters from all backgrounds there since the morning to mourn during this cold day.

In Gaza, Hamas paraded the coffins with the bodies on a stage designed for the handover to the Red Cross in a ceremony watched by locals and with loud music. With messages blaming the IDF and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the deaths of hostages being returned, the four coffins had identifying photos of the victims and their names under them, except that the names of Ariel and Kfir were traded between each other, in a mistake that was probably the only non-staged aspect of the event. In the aftermath of the ceremony in Gaza, jubilant Palestinian children took the stage for celebratory photos in the macabre setting.

According to the IDF, the reported bodies of Kfir Bibas, Ariel Bibas, Shiri Bibas, and, what was confirmed to be Oded Lifschitz were delivered to the Red Cross, which in turn delivered them to Israeli forces. After a short memorial ceremony, the bodies were taken to the Abu Kabir morgue in Tel Aviv. Before the military ceremony, the coffins had to be scanned for explosives and dangerous materials.

Ariel Bibas, 4, his 10-month-old brother Kfir, and their mother, Shiri Bibas, 34, were among the hostages taken by Hamas during the October 7 attack from Kibbutz Nir Oz, and became a heartbreaking symbol of the massacre, with Kfir being the youngest hostage.

Oded Lifschitz, 84, dedicated his life to advocating for peace and Palestinian rights, notably through his journalism at the left-leaning newspaper Al-Hamishmar. He also worked as a volunteer and used to transport Palestinian patients from Gaza to Israeli hospitals for treatment.

Israelis gather in Tel Aviv’s Hostages’ Square on February 20, 2025. (Nathan Klabin/The Media Line)

We don’t want to choose the path of retribution, but they are proud of what they did and promise they will do it again. Then they will hide behind their children, blame Israel if their children die, and try to draw an equivalence between the deaths of Ariel and Kfir with the deaths of Palestinian children they were using as human shields.

For some Israelis, the whole ordeal felt like the end of hope. ‘David,’ a religious Israeli man from Tel Aviv, said to The Media Line that “it is clearer than ever that peace isn’t possible with Hamas, and we don’t want to choose the path of retribution, but they are proud of what they did and promise they will do it again. Then they will hide behind their children, blame Israel if their children die, and try to draw an equivalence between the deaths of Ariel and Kfir with the deaths of Palestinian children they were using as human shields.”

The events of February 20 have deepened Israel’s grief and inflamed public calls for the immediate return of all remaining hostages, all the while also reaffirming for many the need for Israel to increase its commitment to completely purging Hamas from Gaza.

I’m here because of solidarity because I want to be with my people, with the families. We are together not just in good times but also in sad times like this one.

Netta, another Israeli who attended the gathering, explained to The Media Line why she came: “I’m here because of solidarity because I want to be with my people, with the families. We are together not just in good times but also in sad times like this one.”

When asked about those who compare Israeli and Palestinian casualties, she rejected the comparison outright: “I don’t think that such a comparison is in place. Hamas initiated this war. They brutally attacked innocent people while they were sleeping in their beds. They attacked civilians, not military targets. We do what it takes to bring peace back, and sadly, it also costs lives. But it is not our goal. It never was and never will be.”

Another Israeli at the square, Marcia Polisuk, an Associate VP with Hillel, shared her indignation regarding the world’s silence. “Today should be a wake-up call for the world for the danger of Islamic fundamentalism. This is not just Israel’s problem. It’s not just an Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It’s a global problem. The world must wake up—once again, the world has remained silent and done nothing for the Jews. Nothing. Today represents that—the solitude we live in.”

Every time we’ve had interactions with terrorists, ever since Israel was established, whenever terrorists had weapons, they used them in the most brutal ways. October 7 was proof of that. We keep forgetting who we are dealing with, but Hamas reminds us. Many Israelis never truly believed we would see these hostages alive again, and today’s tragedy only reinforces our understanding of who Hamas is.

Dr. Eyal Lewin, Department of Middle Eastern Studies and Political Science, Ariel University, commented on the emotional weight of the day: “Every time we’ve had interactions with terrorists, ever since Israel was established, whenever terrorists had weapons, they used them in the most brutal ways. October 7 was proof of that. We keep forgetting who we are dealing with, but Hamas reminds us. Many Israelis never truly believed we would see these hostages alive again, and today’s tragedy only reinforces our understanding of who Hamas is.”

David Mencer, a spokesman for the Israeli government, said, “The return of our hostages’ bodies is not a gesture of mercy. It’s a reminder of the depth of Hamas’ cruelty. Just take a look at the ceremony today. It was a circus of death and depravity. These hostages should have been released alive. They should never have been taken.” 

In the face of the national trauma, Israel’s Education Ministry has issued guidelines to help parents and educators address the sensitive topic with children. The ministry advised minimizing exposure to distressing news and visuals, especially for younger children and recommends that educational staff avoid discussions on the subject. However, if the topic arises, discussions should be conducted following professional guidelines, and parents are encouraged to reassure their children, allowing them to express concerns and emotions and to explain that the hostages died in captivity if the subject is mentioned. The Ministry opened a hotline at *6312 for additional support.