The National Jewish Assembly (NJA) joins the people of Israel in mourning the heartbreaking loss of Ariel (5) and Kfir (2) Bibas, and Oded Lifshitz (83) – hostages whose lifeless bodies were paraded in coffins by Hamas terrorists in a grotesque spectacle attended by cheering Gazan civilians, including parents with their children.
The NJA is also sickened and outraged by the shocking fraud Hamas has committed, attempting to pass off an unknown corpse as the body of Shiri Bibas. This cynical and depraved act underscores Hamas’ total lack of humanity. The failure to return Shiri, alive or deceased, prolongs the suffering of her family, and the silence of international human rights organisations on this deceitful atrocity is appalling. Furthermore, despite Hamas’ claims that IDF bombardment killed Shiri, Ariel and Kfir Bibas, available intelligence and forensic findings from the identification process confirm that Ariel and Kfir Bibas were murdered by terrorists in captivity in November 2023.
The depths of depravity displayed at this so-called “ceremony” cannot be overstated. Instead of mourning these innocent lives, hundreds of Gazans – including infants and young children – attended the Hamas-orchestrated event in celebration. Convicted terrorists previously released in the hostage deal were also present, making a mockery of any claim that Hamas abides by agreements.
Among the murdered was Oded Lifshitz, an Israeli peace activist who spent years personally driving Gazans into Israel for medical treatment. His kidnapping, torture, and murder serve as a grim indictment not just of Hamas, but of the very people he spent his life helping.
For too long, the world has been fed the lie that Gaza’s civilians are simply victims of Hamas. But what does it say about their society when entire families bring their children to watch a hostage death rally? What does it say when the very civilians who benefited from Israeli medical aid celebrate the murder of those who helped them?
The NJA echoes the growing sentiment that this is not just a battle against Hamas, but against an entire culture that glorifies terror and dehumanises Jews. There can be no peace with a society that raises its children to cheer the slaughter of Jews.
The NJA demands action from the UK government and the international community to abandon their delusions about Gaza’s “innocence” and confront the reality: there is no two-state solution with a Palestinian society that embraces genocide.
For further information, please contact: office@nja.org.uk
