Israel identifies two kid’s remains, but Hamas-sent body isn’t Mother Shiri Bibas
The Israeli military confirmed on Friday that one of the four bodies returned from Gaza did not belong to hostage Shiri Bibas. This contradicted Hamas’s claim. The military identified the remains of her two sons, infant Kfir Bibas and 4-year-old Ariel Bibas. The fourth body’s identity remains unknown.
On Thursday, Hamas handed over four bodies, triggering national grief. Thousands gathered in Tel Aviv for a vigil, while flag-waving crowds lined highways in the rain to honor the deceased. The dead hostages included an elderly journalist and peace activist.
The return of these bodies was part of an exchange under the Gaza ceasefire agreement brokered by the US, Qatar, and Egypt. In the next phase, Israel will release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, mainly women and minors, in exchange for six living hostages on Saturday.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed revenge against Hamas. He reiterated Israel’s mission to eliminate the group and bring home the remaining hostages. A Hamas militant displayed a poster with Israeli-flag-draped coffins, warning, “The return of war = the return of your prisoners in coffins.”
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the display of the bodies, calling it “abhorrent and appalling.” His spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, urged the respectful return of remains to uphold international law and human dignity.
The Hamas-led attack on Israel in October 2023 killed about 1,200 people and took 251 hostages, according to Israeli reports. Israel’s military response has killed around 48,000 people, according to Palestinian health officials.
Kfir Bibas, the youngest hostage, was nine months old when Hamas kidnapped him and his family from Kibbutz Nir Oz. Hamas claimed an Israeli airstrike killed the children and their mother in November 2023, but Israel never confirmed their deaths.
“Shiri and the kids became a symbol,” said Yiftach Cohen, a Nir Oz resident. The attack devastated the community, killing or kidnapping nearly a quarter of its population.
Yarden Bibas, Kfir’s father, was released earlier this month in a prisoner swap. Another hostage, 83-year-old Oded Lifshitz, was also among the returned bodies. His wife, Yocheved, was freed two weeks after their abduction.
Negotiations for a second phase of hostage releases and an Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza will begin soon. The world watches as the conflict unfolds.
