The Israeli military announced on Friday that Hamas terrorists killed Ariel and Kfir Bibas with their bare hands, despite Hamas previously claiming the children died in an Israeli airstrike.

“Ariel and Kfir Bibas were murdered by terrorists in cold blood,” said IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari. “Contrary to Hamas’ lies, Ariel and Kfir were not killed in an airstrike.”

"The terrorists did not shoot the two young boys — they killed them with their bare hands. Afterwards, they committed horrific acts to cover up these atrocities,” Hagari added, per the New York Post.

The two children, ages four and ten months, were among the remains returned to Israel in coffins as part of an ongoing ceasefire deal. Their father, Yarden Bibas, was taken hostage by Hamas but was freed earlier this month. While in captivity, he was forced to announce the deaths of his wife and children in a Hamas propaganda video.

According to Hagari, forensic evidence and intelligence confirmed that the children were killed “no later” than November 2023, just one month after Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel.

"We have shared these findings, intelligence and forensics with our partners around the world so they can verify it,” he added.

Yarden Bibas was informed of the findings, and according to Hagari, he asked that “all the world know and be horrified by the manner in which they murdered his children.”

Israel confirmed the children’s deaths after announcing that Hamas would be releasing the bodies of the boys and their mother, Shiri Bibas. However, after receiving the remains, Israeli authorities discovered that the fourth casket, which was supposed to contain Shiri’s body, instead held an “anonymous, unidentified body.”

"During the identification process, it was determined that the additional body received is not that of Shiri Bibas, and no match was found for any other hostage,” Israeli officials said. Shiri’s body was reportedly en route to Israel on Friday after Hamas claimed it delivered her remains to the Red Cross, the Post reported.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned Hamas for the murders, stating on Friday, “These perfect children … were 4 years old and less than 1 year old when the Hamas savages snatched them from their mother’s arms.”

“Who kidnaps a little boy and a baby and murders them? Monsters. That’s who,” he said. Netanyahu also accused Hamas of a “cruel and malicious violation” of the ceasefire by failing to return Shiri Bibas’ remains.

“We will work with determination to bring Shiri home together with all our hostages — both living and dead — and ensure that Hamas pays the full price for this cruel and malicious violation of the agreement,” he added. “The sacred memory of Oded Lifshitz and Ariel and Kfir Bibas will be forever enshrined in the heart of the nation. May God avenge their blood. And so we will avenge.”