‘Depraved’ Gazans were ‘cheering’ Bibas kids’ coffins, top Trump official charges

Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief

Pointing to the crowd of hundreds in Gaza that were seen “cheering” during last week’s Hamas ceremony returning the bodies of baby Kfir and toddler Ariel Bibas, US Deputy Mideast Envoy Morgan Ortagus calls Gaza a “depraved society.”

“You have… a society that has to not only be demilitarized, but has to be deradicalized,” Ortagus tells Fox News, also noting that Gazan civilians took part in October 7 atrocities, including abductions.

“President Trump sent a very clear and strong signal about the deradicalization that has to happen to this population,” she says, apparently referring to remarks at a press conference with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when Trump called for the US to take over Gaza and permanently remove its residents.

“If you didn’t believe President Trump a few weeks ago, look at the image of the crowd clapping and cheering as babies go back in their coffins into Israel, without their mother,” Ortagus says.

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