The remains of agents of Israel Shiri Bibas have been returned, said his family one day after the Israeli army said that the first set of remains released by Hamas earlier this week He turned out to be the body of an unknown Gazan instead.
Hamas, which was appointed a terrorist group by the United States and Israel, presented four bodies Thursday as part of Gaza cease-fire contract This entered into force on January 19. They included those of the two young children from Bibas, who were taken hostage with their mother during the Hamas terrorist attack against Israel on October 7, 2023. The body of Shiri Bibas would have been returned because well, but the forces Israeli later said that it was the body of an unidentified Gazan.
His family said the right remains had been delivered on Friday evening. The family said that the Israeli Institute of Judicial Medicine has identified remains like Bibas. The details of the commemorative services will be divided later, said the family.
“For 16 months, we have looked for certainty, and now that it is here, it does not bring any comfort, although we hope it marks the start of the closure,” the family said in a statement shared by bringing them home nowA group pleading for the release of Israeli hostages.
Magali Cohen
Thursday, the remains of the children of Bibas were given by Hamas. Shiri Bibas’ body was also returned, but Israeli forces later said that it was the body of an unidentified Gazan. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Friday, promised to charge Hamas at “the total price” After their mistake, appealing to him a “cruel and nasty violation” of the ceasefire.
The sons of Bibas, Ariel and Kfir, were 4 years and 9 months, respectively, when they were taken. KFIR was the youngest of October 7 captives. The father of children, Yarden Bibas, was not with his family on October 7, but was taken hostage separately. He was Released earlier in February.
The fourth body returned by Hamas was that of Oded Lifshitz, who was 83 years old when he was caught in captivity.
Hamas claimed This Shiri Bibas, his sons and his life were killed by an Israeli air strike in Gaza. The Bibas family said they were “murdered in captivity”.
Bring them home now
The transfer of the bad body has put more tension on the already fragile ceasefire. The first phase of six weeks of the agreement, during which Hamas was to present 33 living Israeli hostages, is expected to end next week. Six living hostages are expected to be published by Hamas on Saturday.
Israel also published dozens of Palestinian prisoners during the first phase.
There has been no indication of progress in talks on the second phase of the ceasefire in Israel, Hamas or the United States and other countries that have helped negotiate the agreement.
The War of Israel at 15 months against Hamas has killed more than 48,000 people in Gaza, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. About 1,200 Israelis were killed in Hamas’ terrorist attack, which sparked the war.
– Haley Otter and Tucker Reals contributed to this report.