TEL AVIV: Israel has accused Hamas of breaching the ceasefire deal after confirming that the body returned from Gaza was not Shiri Bibas. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated on Thursday that forensic testing proved the body was unidentifiable.
The three other bodies retrieved were identified as her two sons, Ariel and Kfir, and Israeli peace activist Oded Lifshitz. Hamas has yet to respond to the accusation that it failed to comply with the agreed terms.
Israel insists that Hamas must return Shiri Bibas’ body along with the remaining hostages. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the incident, calling it a “cruel violation” of the agreement.
Netanyahu’s Statement
Netanyahu stated on Friday that Israel would ensure Hamas faces consequences for failing to uphold its obligations under the deal. He vowed to bring back Shiri and all other hostages, whether alive or deceased.
The IDF shared on social media that forensic examinations proved the unidentified body did not belong to Bibas or any other known hostage. They labeled this a severe breach of the ceasefire agreement.
Israel has demanded that Hamas fulfill its commitment and return Shiri’s body. The military emphasized that Hamas had agreed to return four deceased hostages, making this failure unacceptable.
Forensic Findings
According to IDF intelligence, Ariel and Kfir Bibas were killed by Hamas in captivity in November 2023. Hamas had previously claimed that the children and their mother died in an Israeli airstrike.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum expressed devastation over the news that Shiri’s body was not included. The forum called this development heartbreaking and urged action to retrieve her remains.
Shiri Bibas, along with her sons Ariel and Kfir, was taken hostage during Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. At the time, Shiri was 32, Ariel was four, and Kfir was nine months old.
Symbol of Grief
The Bibas family has become a powerful symbol in Israel, representing the suffering of those taken captive. The announcement of their deaths triggered widespread mourning across the country.
Their father, Yarden Bibas, 34, was released by Hamas on February 1, 2024. He had been separated from his wife and children after being kidnapped.
Israel has confirmed that the fourth body handed over was that of Oded Lifshitz, a veteran peace activist. His return has been met with mixed emotions due to the ongoing crisis.
Ongoing Demands
The IDF remains firm in its stance that Hamas must comply fully with the agreement. Israel continues to demand the return of Shiri’s body and all other hostages.
International pressure is mounting for a resolution to the hostage situation. However, tensions between Israel and Hamas persist, complicating further negotiations.
Israel has vowed to take necessary actions to bring all captives home. The situation remains critical as both sides navigate the ongoing conflict.
