After a forensic test, Israel condemned Hamas’s ceasefire violation. Israel claims that the body returned was not of Shiri Bibas. On Thursday, Israeli officials identified three bodies as those of Bibas’s sons, Ariel and Kfir, and veteran peace activist Oded Lifshitz.
However, forensic teams determined that the fourth body did not belong to Bibas or any known hostage. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced Hamas for what he called a cruel and deceptive act.
Hamas’s ceasefire violation has further strained relations as Israel demands the return of Bibas. Israeli intelligence reports stated that Hamas allegedly murdered Ariel 5 and Kfir two in captivity in November 2023.
This contradicts Hamas’s previous claim that Israeli airstrikes killed them along with their mother. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) publicly condemned the act, stating that the misidentified body was a direct violation of the ceasefire terms.
“We demand that Hamas return Shiri home along with all our hostages,” stated the IDF. Meanwhile, Hamas spokesperson Ismail al-Thwabta states that Bibas’s remains might have been mixed up with other bodies trapped under rubble from an Israeli airstrike.
The hostages and missing families forum expressed heartbreak over the development, stating it was devastated that Shiri was not returned as agreed. Netanyahu reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to retrieving all remaining hostages and holding Hamas accountable.
Bibas 32 was kidnapped alongside her sons and husband during the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023. The tragic confirmation of her children’s death has led to widespread grief across Israel, with mounting pressure on the government to ensure the return of all remaining hostages.
