Israel has accused Hamas of breaching a ceasefire agreement after forensic tests showed that a body returned from Gaza was not that of Shiri Bibas. Instead, it was identified as her sons, Ariel and Kfir, who were just four years old and nine months old at the time of their kidnapping. The soldiers confirmed that a fourth body, also returned, belonged to Oded Lifshitz, a well-known peace activist.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that Hamas deceived everyone by placing the body of a Gazan woman in the coffin supposed to hold Shiri. He stated that the IDF found no match for her among the returned bodies and emphasized that this was a serious violation of the terms agreed upon for the hostage exchange.
Hamas had previously announced that the mother and her children died during an Israeli airstrike in November 2023. However, Israel has demanded that Shiri’s body be returned along with any remaining hostages.
“We will work tirelessly to bring Shiri home, living or deceased, and ensure Hamas is held accountable for this cruel violation,” Netanyahu asserted. The IDF confirmed that the unidentified body recovered did not belong to Shiri or any other hostage.
The Hostages Families Forum expressed their shock and grief upon learning that Shiri had not been returned. She had become a symbol of hope and tragedy for many in Israel since her abduction.
When Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir were taken on October 7, 2023, they were aged 32, four, and nine months, respectively. Yarden Bibas, their father, was released by Hamas earlier this year.
As part of the ceasefire agreement effective from January 19, Israel anticipates the return of eight additional bodies. This deal included exchanging 33 hostages for approximately 1,900 prisoners over the first six weeks. While discussions were expected to continue to secure the release of more hostages and end the conflict, they have yet to commence.
So far, 28 hostages have been released, while 66 taken on October 7 remain in captivity, with some estimates suggesting that around half of these individuals might still be alive. The retaliatory military campaign by Israel following the Hamas assaults has resulted in significant casualties, including over 1,200 deaths, mainly among civilians, on October 7 alone. The ongoing conflict has also reportedly claimed the lives of at least 48,297 Palestinians, according to health officials in Gaza.
Additionally, on the same day as the body transfers, multiple bus explosions were reported in Bat Yam, south of Tel Aviv, suspected to be linked to terrorist activity. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. The Israeli government responded by intensifying military operations against suspected terrorist sites in the West Bank.
