The stays of Israel hostage Shiri Bibas have been returned, her household stated, a day after Israel’s navy stated the primary set of stays launched by Hamas earlier this week turned out to be the body of an unknown Gazan woman instead.
Hamas, which has been designated a terrorist group by the U.S. and Israel, handed over 4 our bodies on Thursday as a part of the Gaza ceasefire agreement that took impact on Jan. 19. They included these of Bibas’ two younger youngsters, who had been taken hostage with their mom throughout Hamas’ terror assault on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Shiri Bibas’ physique was stated to have been returned as effectively, however Israeli forces stated later that it was the physique of an unidentified Gazan girl.
Her household stated the right stays had been handed over Friday night time. The household stated that the Israeli Institute of Forensic Medication recognized the stays as Bibas’. Particulars about memorial providers might be shared later, the household stated.
“For 16 months we sought certainty, and now that it is right here, it brings no consolation, although we hope it marks the start of closure,” the household stated in a press release shared by Bring Them Home Now, a bunch advocating for the discharge of the Israeli hostages.
MAGALI COHEN
The stays of Bibas’ youngsters had been handed over by Hamas on Thursday. Shiri Bibas’ physique was stated to have been returned as effectively, however Israeli forces later stated it was the physique of an unidentified Gazan girl. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday vowed to make Hamas pay “the full price” following their mistake, calling it a “merciless and depraved violation” of the ceasefire.
Bibas’ sons, Ariel and Kfir, had been 4 years previous and 9 months previous, respectively, once they had been taken. Kfir was the youngest of the Oct. 7 captives. The kids’s father, Yarden Bibas, was not together with his household on Oct. 7, however was taken hostage individually. He was released earlier in February.
The fourth physique returned by Hamas was that of Oded Lifshitz, who was 83 when he was taken captive.
Hamas has claimed that Shiri Bibas, her sons and Lifshitz had been killed by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza. The Bibas household stated that she was “murdered in captivity.”
Deliver Them House Now
The handover of the mistaken physique put extra pressure on the already fragile ceasefire. The primary six-week part of the settlement, throughout which Hamas was handy over 33 residing Israeli hostages, is ready to finish subsequent week. Six residing hostages are anticipated to be launched by Hamas on Saturday.
Israel has additionally been releasing scores of Palestinian prisoners through the first part.
There has not been any indication of progress in talks on the second part of the ceasefire from Israel, Hamas, or the U.S. and different international locations that helped negotiate the deal.
Israel’s 15-month battle towards Hamas killed greater than 48,000 folks in Gaza, in line with the Palestinian territory’s Hamas-run Ministry of Well being. About 1,200 Israelis had been killed in Hamas’ terrorist assault that sparked the battle.
— Haley Otter and Tucker Reals contributed to this report.
