Mengistu was born in Ethiopia in 1986 and immigrated to Israel at the age of five as part of Operation Solomon. Since 2014, he had been held captive by Hamas after crossing the border into Gaza, more than ten years ago.
Hamas has transferred a body to the Red Cross, which is now en route to the IDF. The IDF stated that the reports are currently under review, and military representatives are in contact with the Bibas family.
Hamas demands the return of the transferred body remains, allegedly belonging to a Palestinian woman killed in the war.
The IDF updates that the body has not been identified as any of the hostages, raising grave concerns for Shiri Bibas' life. Israel informed mediators: "A blatant violation of the deal."
On Thursday, while Israeli authorities were still determining whether the mother and her two boys were returned as dead captives, social media users discovered an old Shiri wrote in the popular Facebook group "Mamatzchik."
Hundreds of flag-bearing Israelis flock to Hostage Square and main roads in heavy rain, awaiting the convoy that will transport the coffins of the four hostages.
"A short while ago, IDF and ISA (Shin Bet) forces brought the coffins of the four deceased hostages over the border into Israel, and they are being taken to the National Institute of Forensic Medicine to undergo an identification procedure. IDF representatives are accompanying their families," the IDF says.
The hour-long documentary, which aired on Monday, was promoted as offering insights into the experiences of three children in the Gaza Strip amidst the current war. It now emerged that a key figure and narrator, 13-year-old Abdullah al-Yazouri, is the son of Hamas's deputy minister of agriculture
US Ambassador to the UN Elise Stefanik says Hamas terrorists must face justice as French President Emmanuel Macron stands in solidarity with the Bibas family.
Kfir, Ariel, and Shiri Bibas are being returned to Israel. The entire country had hoped for a different ending to this tragic story, but this time, there was no miracle. Yarden Bibas was informed that his wife and two young children were killed after being abducted by Hamas terrorists. Now, their remains will be brought home, and an entire nation begin to mourn.
