Dr Chen Kugel, head of the National Institute of Forensic Medicine (Abu Kabir), has officially confirmed the identification of the body of Oded Lifshitz, a former hostage, stating that he was killed in captivity more than a year ago.

The Lifshitz family and the Prime Minister’s Office had previously announced the discovery, with the latter accusing Palestinian Islamic Jihad of murdering him while he was held captive.

In a statement on February 20, Kugel said forensic experts are now working to confirm the identities of three additional bodies released by Hamas. These are believed to be those of Shiri Silberman Bibas and her two children, Ariel and Kfir Bibas, who were 4 years old and 9 months old, respectively, when they were kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz during the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel.

Calling it a “difficult moment for all of Israel,” Kugel extended his condolences to the Lifshitz family.