VFI News 3 Buses Exploded in Tel-Aviv; 6 Hostages to Be Released on Saturday, 4 Bodies Returned on Thursday, Shiri Bibas Was Not One of Them

Israel in Mourning as Bodies Returned – In a heartbreaking development, Hamas has handed over the bodies of Israeli hostages, including infants Ariel and Kfir Bibas, deepening national grief.

As hostage negotiations accelerate, concerns over regional tensions with Egypt, Iran, and Hezbollah continue to rise.

Stay updated on the latest developments in Israel, the Middle East conflict, and global reactions.

#Israel #Mourning #Hostages #ArielBibas #KfirBibas #ShiriBibas #Hamas

Three buses in Israel detonated on Thursday, February 20, in what police are investigating as a suspected terror attack, according to multiple reports. Two empty buses exploded simultaneously in different parking lots in Bat Yam, near Tel Aviv, before a third one went up in flames, according to Israeli media reports.   

Additional bombs were also planted on two other buses in Bat Yam and Holon but failed to explode. They have since been disabled, police said. Videos circulating on social media show the vehicles engulfed in flames, with large plumes of smoke blackening the sky. 

Thankfully, no casualties have been reported. In total, five bombs were planted on five different buses in Central Israel, Tel Aviv District police chief Haim Sargarof told reporters, according to Israeli media.   

He said the explosives appeared to be makeshift with timers attached. One of the unexploded devices included a message saying “Revenge of Tulkarem” – referring to a recent Israeli military counter-terrorism operation in Judea and Samaria, local outlets reported. 

Authorities halted all buses, trains, and light rail trains in the country to search for additional bombs, according to Israeli media reports. Bus drivers throughout the country have also been advised to search their vehicles before traveling, several Hebrew media outlets reported, with security also reinforced at Ben Gurion Airport.   

A massive search is underway for potential suspects, police said. Police are urging the public to avoid the areas and stay on high alert for any suspicious items. (NYP/VFI News)

“No weapon formed against you shall prosper.” - Isaiah 54:17a

The families of six hostages, Tal Shoham, Omer Shem Tov, Eliya Cohen, Omer Wenkert, Hisham al-Sayed, and Avera Mengistu have announced that their loved ones will be returned on Saturday, February 22.  

The family of Hisham al-Sayed stated, “Our Hisham will return home after 3,595 days, which is nearly a decade of waiting. The news of his expected return brings joy, but it will not be complete until all the hostages return home. The agreement must not stop here, and no other hostages should face a decade in captivity.”  

According to reports, Hamas is interested in releasing six living hostages as early as Saturday to ensure the release of 47 terrorists, who were released in the deal to free captive IDF soldier Gilad Shalit and were reincarcerated, out of concern that a delay may prevent their release.  

Meanwhile, the Chief Rabbi of the IDF, Brigadier General Eyal Krim read Psalm 83 yesterday over the caskets of the four supposedly deceased hostages in the territory of the Gaza Strip, upon their return from Hamas.

According to Hamas, they were Shiri Bibas, her two young sons, Ariel and Kfir, and Oded Lifshitz. However, it was later found that Shiri Bibas was not in the fourth coffin.

Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon accuses Hamas of returning an unidentified body instead of the body of the mother of two murdered boys, “as if it were a worthless shipment.” 

“This is a new low, an evil and cruelty with no parallel,” he says in a statement. “There are no words that can describe such an atrocity,” Danon says. 

“Hamas not only murdered Ariel and Kfir Bibas in cold blood – a 4-year-old boy and a 10-month-old baby – but continue to violate every basic moral value even after their death.” (INN/VFI News)

“Dear Lord, we pray that You hold the families of the deceased hostages close and that You provide comfort and peace to them, which surpasses all understanding. We send our heartfelt condolences to the families and pray for their mental well-being. We pray for Shiri Bibas to be returned immediately so that her family can grieve properly. We thank You for revealing this deception and we pray that the whole world sees Hamas for who they are. We also thank You for ensuring that all the hostages get released quickly and returned to their families in Yeshua’s name.”

The Red Cross initially refused to take part in Hamas’s ceremony during the return of the four bodies, supposedly Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas, as well as Oded Lifshitz, Israeli media reported on Thursday, February 20.  

The terror group subsequently threatened not to transfer the slain hostages, according to the report. During the release of the hostages, a Red Cross representative signed Hamas documents on a stage in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, after which Hamas terrorists handed over the coffins to Red Cross vehicles.    

The Red Cross then transferred the coffins to the custody of IDF and Shin Bet forces within the Gaza Strip. 

The coffins were labeled with a picture of each hostage, but Kfir and Ariel Bibas’ remains were in the wrong coffins - with Hamas reportedly switching their names.  The coffins of the two adults - Lifshitz and the unidentified body, also featured a sign that indicated their “date of arrest” — Oct. 7, 2023. 

Hamas had also built a stage east of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on Thursday ahead of the release of the four bodies. On the backdrop of the stage was a banner with “their” photos.

Above them was an image of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu depicted as a vampire. Accompanying the image was the inscription in Arabic, English, and dubious Hebrew: “War criminal Netanyahu & his army killed them with missiles and Zionist warplanes.” (JPost/VFI News)

“They have said, ‘Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more.’” - Psalm 83:4

Hundreds of Gaza citizens, including recently released Palestinian prisoners, children, and infants, were seen in the crowd as Hamas terrorists paraded four black coffins on their decorated stage before passing them off to members of the Red Cross.  

The United Nations rights chief said the parading of bodies in Gaza is abhorrent and flies in the face of international law, British media shared. 

“Under international law, any handover of the remains of deceased must comply with the prohibition of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, ensuring respect for the dignity of the deceased and their families,” Volker Turk said in a statement. 

Former Israeli ambassador to the U.N. and the U.S., Gilad Erdan, compared the Palestinians in Gaza to the Nazis in an X/Twitter post. “Even in Nazi Germany, there were Germans who saved Jews. Not a single Gazan saved a single hostage.” 

Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council Jan Egeland expressed his anger over Hamas terrorists handling of the hostage release on X, “Civilians should never be exchanged as pawns in a power game.” 

German parliament member Lamya Kaddor shared, before it became known that Shiri Bibas was not among the slain hostages: “The news of the death of Bibas family is unbearable. The perfidious spectacle of the hostage handover is also unbearable. My thoughts today are with father Yarden Bibas, who himself was freed from Hamas captivity only three weeks ago.” (JPost /VFI News) 

“Dear God, we praise Your name and we thank You for exposing the hearts of the unrepentant. We are also grateful for everyone who is standing for justice, mercy, and the good of Your people. May You bring about an end to the monstrosities we are experiencing and guide our leaders into handling the fragile situation with the hostages according to Your Will. We pray for all the families in Yeshua’s name, who see their deceased loved ones becoming a spectacle. We pray that You erase all hurt from their hearts and all painful memories from their minds.”

Parashat Mishpatim is a wonderful reminder of our covenant with God, and the rules we follow as children of Moses. We see some of the challenges Moses faced, and how our religious customs and practices came to be. Join Batya in reading and parsing the beautiful words of Mishpatim, to remind yourself of the covenant you have with the Lord.

Argentine President Javier Milei has announced a national day of mourning for the Bibas brothers. 

Sabrina Ajmechet, President of the Argentinian Commission for Human Rights, tweeted her grief for Kfir and Ariel Bibas, who held dual citizenship through their father, recently freed hostage Yarden Bibas.  

Ajmechet denounced the deaths as the “assassination” of “two Argentinian babies” by “Hamas terrorism,” emphasizing the relevance of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to all Argentinians. 

She extended condolences to the Bibas family, stating that “all Argentines are with you.” While Milei’s office has yet to release an official statement, the president is known for his unwavering support of Israel. 

He has repeatedly condemned the October 7th attack and visited Israel multiple times since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war, asserting in a December 2024 letter that “Silence is complicity” regarding the “brutal and cowardly terrorist attack.” (INN/VFI News)

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” - Proverbs 17:17

The Palestinian Authority has announced that 602 Palestinian prisoners will be released from Israeli prisons this week. Among them, 445 are residents of the Gaza Strip arrested during the war. They will be released today, February 21.  

Others, set to be released on Saturday, include 50 prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment, 60 serving long-term sentences, and 47 previously released in the Shalit deal. 108 inmates will be deported to Egypt as a first step before being transferred to other countries, including 13 prisoners with medical issues.  

Among the released is the terrorist Khalil Jabarin Abu-Hamid, a resident of Yatta who murdered Ari Fuld in 2018 at the entrance of a shopping center at the Gush Etzion Junction and was sentenced to life imprisonment. Ari was one of five siblings. He was married to Miriam and fathered four children - Tamar, Naomi, Yakir, and Natan. 

Also to be released from Israeli prison is Nael Barghouti, convicted of the murder of bus driver Mordechai Yekuel, of blessed memory, in 1978. He was released in the Shalit deal and returned to prison for breaking his release terms.  

Another terrorist is Bilal Abu-Ghanem, serving three life sentences for a 2015 attack that killed Haviv Haim, Alon Govberg, and Richard Lakin on a bus in Jerusalem. Another released will be the terrorist Omar al-Zaban, sentenced to 27 life sentences and 25 years in prison, a leader of the Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s military wing. He is responsible for the deaths of at least 27 Israelis. (INN/VFI News)

“Our Heavenly Father, we come to Your Feet and lay our burdens to You. You know who our enemies are, You know who have malice and wickedness in their hearts. We pray that You protect us and our loved ones from them and that they will be brought to eternal justice. May Your name be praised in all circumstances and may Your Will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In Yeshua’s name we pray, amen.”

Over five hundred days have passed since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas War on October 7, 2023, and updated data from the Defense Ministry’s Rehabilitation Department and the IDF, obtained by Israeli media, reveal the heavy toll the war has taken on soldiers, reservists, and security forces.  

Since the war began, 846 soldiers and security personnel have been killed, and 15,000 have been wounded: 8,600 with physical wounds and 7,500 grappling with psychological trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and adjustment disorders. 

Of the casualties, 7% are women and 93% are men. Reservists account for 66% of the wounded, while 17% are active-duty soldiers, and 10% are police officers who fought in the conflict. One striking statistic underscores the war’s intensity: 1,500 soldiers have been wounded twice and returned to battle despite their injuries. 

Some were physically wounded early in the fighting, treated, and then returned to the front lines, only to be injured again. Others, suffering from psychological trauma, chose to rejoin the fight, enduring further emotional distress. 

The report states that the government “has not done enough to address the anticipated mental health challenges,” estimating that “no fewer than 3 million Israelis may develop symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD as a result of the war.” (JPost/VFI News)  

“The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.” - Psalm 38:14

In a remarkable display of resilience and determination, the Israel women’s national ice hockey team secured a second-place finish at the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship, Division III, Group B tournament held this week in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.  

This achievement is particularly noteworthy given the team’s challenging journey since its inception four years ago.  Despite limited practice time and the absence of two key players due to military duties, the team showcased exceptional skill and tenacity.  

After an initial loss to Bulgaria, they rallied to win their next three games decisively, finishing ahead of Estonia, Bosnia, and Singapore. 

Goalie Yael Fatiev once again distinguished herself, while offensively, Lior Leshem and Pnina Basov were instrumental, each amassing 10 points, along with Shani Kotler at six points, placing them among the tournament’s top scorers.  

The tournament was not without external challenges. Pro-Palestinian demonstrations outside the arena and instances of booing during the Israeli national anthem tested the team’s focus. (JPost/VFI News) 

The suggestions, opinions, and scripture references made by VFI News writers and editors are based on the best information received.

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