The body of a woman, presumed to be one of the four dead hostages killed by Hamas this week and handed over to Israel, was positively identified on Saturday morning.
Hostage and Missing Family Forum Headquarters confirmed the identification of Siri Vivas, who was returned to Israel on Friday after Hamas first handed over the Palestinian woman from Gaza on Thursday.
Hamas handed the ffin carrying Viva to the Red Cross on Friday, which changed. tHe copes with Israeli authorities. The co was then transported to the National Institute of Forensic Medicine for identification.
“Our Siri was brought home last night,” the family said in a statement. “Following the identification process at the Forensic Institute, we received news this morning that we were afraid of. Our Siri was confined and killed, and now we are a son, husband, sister and her. I went home to the whole family.”
Siri Vivas and her children, Siri Vivas, Kufia Vivas and Ariel Vivas. Of the four bodies returned to Israel by Hamas on Thursday, two were identified as two young children. The third was initially estimated to be her mother, but that wasn't the case, the Israeli Defense Force said. (Courtesy: Hostage Family Forum)
“In spite of our fear of their destiny, we wanted to accept them, and now we are in pain and heartbreak,” it continued. “For 16 months, we sought certainty. Now we want to mark the beginning of closure, but no longer brings comfort.”
The family said, “Ciri was Ariel and Kufia's wonderful mother, Yaden's loving partner, devoted sister and aunt, and wonderful friend.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday that Hamas will “pay in full” for the allegedly handing over the body of a Palestinian woman from Gaza in place of Vivas' body.
Hamas terrorists took the Vivas family on October 7, 2023. (Fox & Friends/ScreenGrab)
Israeli forces previously said they had positively identified the remains of Vivas' two sons, Ariel and Kufia Vivas, along with Rifshitz, who oded. Four bodies were returned on Thursday, but none of those expected to hold Silivivvas were held hostages.
Hamas said he “has no interest in withholding the bodies he owns.” The terrorist group said the dead hostages handed over on Thursday were killed in an Israeli airstrike in November 2023, and the bodies may have been misidentified by artillery fire in the area.
After Silvivas returns, the family is seeking the return of the remaining hostages held in Gaza. Six are released on Saturday.
Click here to get the Fox News app
“In this difficult time, we will continue to request and call for the immediate return of the remaining hostages who are still in captivity. There is no more important goal. Without them, there is no rehabilitation,” the Vivas family said. I said that.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
