Israel has accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire deal after forensic testing confirmed that the Gaza body is not Shiri Bibas. The body returned from Gaza on Thursday was expected to be that of Bibas, but Israeli authorities determined it belonged to someone else.
The three other bodies handed over were identified as her sons, Ariel and Kfir, who would have been aged five and two, and Oded Lifshitz, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). However, the fourth body was neither Shiri Bibas nor any other hostage. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hamas of deceiving Israel by placing “the body of a Gazan woman in a coffin.” This revelation has intensified Israel’s demand for the return of Shiri’s body, as Gaza body is not Shiri Bibas, despite the ceasefire agreement.
Hamas has not responded to Israel’s accusations or to the IDF’s claim that Ariel and Kfir Bibas “were brutally murdered by terrorists in captivity in November 2023.” Previously, Hamas claimed that the children and their mother were killed in an Israeli bombing in November 2023. However, forensic evidence now contradicts this, with Israel insisting that the Gaza body is not Shiri Bibas, sparking further outrage.
Israel has demanded the immediate return of Shiri Bibas’s body and all remaining hostages. Netanyahu vowed, “We will act with determination to bring Shiri home along with all our hostages—both living and dead—and ensure that Hamas pays the full price for this cruel and evil violation of the agreement.” The IDF confirmed on X that after identification, it was verified that the Gaza body is not Shiri Bibas, calling it “a severe violation” of the ceasefire agreement, which required Hamas to return four deceased hostages.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum expressed devastation upon learning that Shiri Bibas was not among those returned. “We are horrified and devastated by the news that their mother, Shiri, was not returned—despite the agreement and our desperate hopes,” the forum stated. The Gaza body is not Shiri Bibas, reinforcing Israeli concerns that Hamas is withholding key information.
Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas were kidnapped during the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. Their plight has become symbolic in Israel, and news of their deaths was met with widespread grief. The children’s father, Yarden Bibas, was released by Hamas on February 1. However, the misidentification of the returned remains has further fueled tensions, as Israeli officials reiterate that the Gaza body is not Shiri Bibas, raising doubts about Hamas’s credibility.
The release of hostages’ bodies was part of the ceasefire deal that began on January 19, with Israel expecting eight bodies to be handed over. The agreement included exchanging 33 hostages for about 1,900 prisoners over six weeks. However, talks for the next phase—releasing the remaining living hostages and ending the war—have stalled. The uncertainty surrounding the hostage situation, especially since the Gaza body is not Shiri Bibas, has only added to the diplomatic strain.
As of now, 66 hostages taken on October 7 remain in Gaza, along with three others abducted over a decade ago. Israel estimates that about half of those still held are alive. The ongoing conflict has resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths in Israel, mostly civilians, with 251 people taken hostage. In response, Israel launched a military campaign that has killed at least 48,297 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
Meanwhile, tensions escalated further on Thursday as three buses exploded in Bat Yam, south of Tel Aviv, in what Israeli police called a suspected terror attack. Explosive devices were found in two other buses but failed to detonate. Authorities confirmed no casualties but stated that “large police forces are at the scenes, searching for suspects.” Netanyahu responded by ordering the IDF to carry out an “intensive operation against centers of terrorism” in the West Bank.
The revelation that the Gaza body is not Shiri Bibas has intensified calls for justice and raised serious concerns about Hamas’s handling of the hostage agreement. Israel remains adamant that all hostages—both living and deceased—must be returned, holding Hamas accountable for this latest violation.
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