London – The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, promised “revenge” on Friday after the Israeli army said that one of the four bodies released by Hamas did not include a hostage.
Hamas, the militant group that governs the Gaza Strip devastated by the war, said he had delivered the remains of four Israeli hostages who died on Thursday: Shiri Bibas, 32; His two children: Ariel Bibas, 4 years old, and Kfir Bibas, 8 1/2 months; and Oded Lifschitz, 84.
After performing a forensic analysis, Israeli officials positively identified three of the bodies returned such as Lifschitz and Bibas’ children, but said the room was not that of their mother or any other hostage, according to Israel’s defense forces , which accused Hamas of committing a “very serious violation” of the current fire agreement.
“The cruelty of Hamas’ monsters knows no limits,” Netanyahu said in a statement on Friday. “Not only did they kidnapped the father, Yarden Bibas, the young mother, Shiri and her two little babies. “
“We will act with determination to take Shiri home along with all our hostages, both living and dead, and we will make sure that Hamas pays the full price for this cruel and evil violation of the agreement,” he added.
Hamas said in a statement on Friday that “it will examine these statements very seriously” and “will announce the results clearly.” The group also asked for the return of the body that Israel said is that of a Palestinian woman.
“We point out the possibility of an error or overlap in the bodies, which may be the result of the directed occupation and bombing the place where the family was with other Palestinians,” Hamas added.
Israeli soldiers carry the coffins of the deceased hostages, identified at that time by Palestinian militant groups such as Oded Lifschitz, Shiri Bibas and their two children, Kfir and Ariel Bibas, who were kidnapped during the deadly October 7, 2023 by Hamas, and They were delivered under the terms of a high fire between Hamas and Israel, in the strip of Gaza in This booklet image obtained by Reuters on February 20, 2025. GPO/brochure through Reuters, this image has been supplied by a third party
GPO/Via Reuters
The IDF, citing “the evaluation of the professional authorities,” said Ariel and Kfir Bibas “were brutally killed in captivity in November 2023 by terrorists.” His father, Yarden Bibas, 35, was also kidnapped during the terrorist attack led by Hamas in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, but survived and was released earlier this month.
Ismail Al-Thawabta, general director of the Office of Government Media of Hamas, directed by Hamas, said in a statement on Friday that Shiri Bibas remains were mixed with other human remains under the rubble of the place where he was stopped in Gaza later of Israeli air attacks “deliberately” destroyed the area “, killing her and her children.”
“Netanyahu himself is the one who issued the orders for direct and ruthless bombard Israelí has killed more than 30,000 women and Palestinian children in Gaza since the current war began.
A spokesman for Nir Oz, the Kibbutz in southern Israel, where the Bibas family was kidnapped from his house, issued a statement on Friday in response to Netanyahu promising “come”.
“We woke up with a difficult morning,” Kibbutz spokesman said. “At the same time, we adhere to our values and the clear demands of the Bibas family at this time: free, not revenge.”
Hamas is expected to release another six living hostages on Saturday followed by four more bodies next week as part of the terms agreed for the first phase of the high fire, which began on January 19 and is supposed to last 42 days.
The negotiations to establish the terms for the second phase have not begun, but the Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday that mediators are pressing so that the conversations begin as soon as possible to allow enough time for the discussion before it begins. Hamas has accused Israel of avoiding conversations and says he is ready to negotiate.
