Israeli Army Confirms Hamas’ Breaches in Ceasefire Agreement: Shiri Bibas Not Among Bodies Returned
In a shocking turn of events, the Israeli military has revealed that the body of Shiri Bibas, an Israeli woman held hostage in the Gaza Strip, was not among the bodies handed over by the Islamist Palestinian group Hamas.
Forensic investigations determined that the body provided by Hamas did not match Bibas’ DNA and did not correspond to any other known kidnap victims. The Israeli army denounced this as a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement reached between the two sides.
However, the army confirmed the identities of two child bodies that were transferred. After extensive forensic examination, it was concluded that these were the remains of Kfir and Ariel Bibas, Shiri Bibas’ sons, who were abducted to the Gaza Strip over 16 months ago. Sadly, the Bibas family has been informed of their tragic loss.
Intelligence and forensic evidence indicate that Ariel and Kfir were brutally murdered in captivity by terrorists in November 2023. Hamas had falsely claimed that they were killed in an Israeli bombardment. Ariel Bibas was four years old and Kfir Bibas was ten months old at the time of their deaths.
The Israeli military’s investigation also revealed that the third body provided by Hamas was not that of any remaining hostage in their custody. It remains an unidentified corpse. The army condemned this as a gross violation of the agreement to hand over the bodies of deceased hostages to Israel.
Israel has strongly protested Hamas’ violation of the ceasefire in an urgent message to mediators, demanding the return of Bibas and all other hostages. A high-ranking Israeli official described the situation as "deeply shocking" and expressed bewilderment over Hamas’ actions, calling it a serious breach of trust.
"This is a new low, an evil, and a cruelty that has no parallel," stated Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon. "Hamas returned the unidentified body of a woman in place of the mother of two murdered boys, as if she were a worthless delivery."
Danon added, "There are no words that can describe such an atrocity." He condemned Hamas for continuing to violate all moral principles, even after the death of the children.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu labeled the handover of the wrong body a "cruel and malicious breach" of the ceasefire. He vowed that Hamas will "pay a heavy price" for its actions.
"We will act resolutely to bring Shiri home, along with all of our hostages – the living and the dead – and to ensure that Hamas pays the full price for this cruel and malicious breach of the agreement," Netanyahu said in a video message.
US Senator Marco Rubio called for the eradication of Hamas, stating that it is "evil – pure evil" and that all hostages must be returned immediately. This statement was made prior to the disclosure that the female body was not that of Shiri Bibas.
The future of the agreement between Israel and Hamas remains uncertain. Hamas had indicated that four more bodies would be handed over next week, while six more hostages were set to be released on Saturday.
The handover of the bodies had been staged by Hamas in the Gaza Strip town of Khan Yunis before being transferred to Israeli authorities for forensic analysis. The body of Oded Lifschitz, a retired journalist and Palestinian rights activist, was initially identified.
Under the agreement with Hamas, Israel was reportedly to release all women and minors detained since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023 who were not involved in armed conflict.
The transfer of the bodies follows a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that took effect on January 19th. In the first phase of the ceasefire, 19 Israeli hostages have been released in exchange for over 1,100 Palestinian prisoners. The total number of hostages to be released is 33, with eight confirmed by Israel to be deceased.
