Israel Says Shiri Bibas’ Body Not Among Those Returned by Hamas, Group Pledges Investigation
Israel’s military announced on Friday that the body of Shiri Bibas, an Israeli hostage, was not among the four bodies Hamas returned from Gaza. The revelation has sparked outrage, with Israel accusing Hamas of a “severe violation” of the ceasefire agreement. Hamas, in response, pledged to investigate the claim, reiterating its commitment to the terms of the deal.
The Israeli military confirmed that two of the bodies received were those of Bibas’ young sons, Kfir and Ariel, along with another hostage, Oded Lifshitz. However, forensic examination revealed that the fourth body was unidentified and did not belong to Shiri Bibas. “This is an anonymous, unidentified body,” the military stated, demanding Hamas return her remains along with those of all other hostages.Read the full story
Majumdar News - Origin Of Authentic News
A Tragic Turn for the Bibas Family
The Bibas family has become a symbol of the October 7 terror attacks, their ordeal capturing widespread attention in Israel and beyond. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned Hamas’ failure to return Shiri’s body, calling it “an unimaginable cynical move.”
“We will act with determination to bring Shiri home along with all our hostages, both the living and the dead,” Netanyahu stated. He also revealed that the unidentified body handed over belonged to a Palestinian woman, raising further questions about Hamas’ handling of the agreement.Families demand answers
In its response, Hamas reaffirmed its “seriousness and full commitment” to the ceasefire deal and vowed to examine Israel’s claims. The group suggested that Bibas’ remains might have been lost in the rubble due to Israeli airstrikes and called on Israel to return the Palestinian woman’s body.
Hostage Releases to Continue
Despite the controversy, the Israeli military stated that the planned release of six additional hostages on Saturday would proceed as scheduled. Kfir Bibas, just nine months old, was the youngest hostage abducted and killed in Gaza. His brother, Ariel, was four. Hamas has repeatedly claimed the three were killed in an Israeli airstrike but has provided no evidence. Meanwhile, Israel asserts that forensic findings indicate the two boys were murdered in captivity in November 2023, though no proof has been publicly shared.Israel’s official response
Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, condemned Hamas, calling for international pressure to ensure Shiri Bibas’ remains are returned. “There are no words for such an atrocity,” he said. “Hamas not only murdered Ariel and Kfir in cold blood but continues to violate every basic moral value even after their deaths.”
A senior U.S. official also issued a strong warning to Hamas, demanding the return of Bibas’ body and all remaining hostages or risk “total annihilation.” Adam Boehler, the U.S. envoy for hostage affairs, told Media that Israel had informed him the boys had been murdered a month after their abduction. “I don’t know what Hamas thought when they placed another person’s body in a coffin and claimed it was the mother of two murdered children,” he said. “If I were them, I’d release everyone or they’re going to face total annihilation.”
A Father’s Ongoing Anguish
Yarden Bibas, Shiri’s husband and the boys’ father, was also kidnapped during the October 7 attack on Kibbutz Nir Oz. He was released earlier this month after 484 days in captivity as part of the January 2025 ceasefire deal. However, Shiri and the children were not included in previous hostage releases, as Israel believed they were held by another militant group.Shocking new details
Following his release, Yarden expressed his devastation, stating, “Sadly, my family hasn’t returned to me yet. My light is still there, and as long as they’re there, everything here is dark.”
The revelation that Shiri’s body was not among those returned has reignited grief and anger in Israel. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum called the development “horrifying and devastating,” demanding that the ceasefire agreement be upheld and hostages be returned immediately. “Israel and the international community must stand firm in ensuring that the agreement is upheld while acting with wisdom and urgency to address these blatant violations.”
Majumdar News - Origin Of Authentic News
Global Outrage and Calls for Accountability
The Bibas family’s abduction has become an emblem of the October 7 attacks, with images of Ariel and Kfir seen worldwide. Photos of Kfir, clutching a pink elephant toy, and Ariel, wrapped in a hairdresser’s cape, have been used in protests across cities like New York, London, and Berlin. The family’s story was even highlighted at the World Economic Forum in Davos by Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned Hamas’ handling of the handover, calling the public display of bodies and coffins deeply disturbing. The incident has further strained negotiations and intensified demands for the return of all remaining hostages, as tensions between Israel and Hamas continue to escalate.
.gif)