LONDON — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed “revenge” on Friday after the Israeli navy said one of many 4 our bodies lately launched by Hamas didn’t embody a hostage.
Hamas, the militant group that governs the war-torn Gaza Strip, stated it had handed over the stays of 4 deceased Israeli hostages on Thursday: 32-year-old Shiri Bibas; her two youngsters — Ariel Bibas, 4, and Kfir Bibas, 8 1/2 months; and 84-year-old Oded Lifschitz.
After conducting a forensic evaluation, Israeli officers positively recognized three of the returned our bodies as Lifschitz and the Bibas youngsters however stated the fourth was not that of their mom nor some other hostage, in response to the Israel Protection Forces, which accused Hamas of committing a “very severe violation” of the present ceasefire settlement.
“The cruelty of the Hamas monsters is aware of no bounds,” Netanyahu stated in a press release Friday. “Not solely did they kidnap the daddy, Yarden Bibas, the younger mom, Shiri, and their two small infants. In an unspeakably cynical method, they didn’t return Shiri to her little youngsters, the little angels, and so they put the physique of a Gazan lady in a coffin.”
“We’ll act with willpower to convey Shiri house together with all our hostages — each residing and useless — and be sure that Hamas pays the total worth for this merciless and evil violation of the settlement,” he added.
Hamas stated in a press release Friday that it “will look at these claims very significantly” and “will announce the outcomes clearly.” The group additionally referred to as for the return of the physique that Israel stated is that of a Palestinian lady.
“We level out the potential for an error or overlap within the our bodies, which can be the results of the occupation focusing on and bombing the place the place the household was with different Palestinians,” Hamas added.
Israeli troopers carry the coffins of deceased hostages, recognized on the time by Palestinian militant teams as Oded Lifschitz, Shiri Bibas and her two youngsters, Kfir and Ariel Bibas, who have been kidnapped throughout the lethal October 7, 2023 assault by Hamas, and have been handed over beneath the phrases of a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, within the Gaza Strip on this handout picture obtained by Reuters on February 20, 2025. GPO/Handout by way of REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY
Gpo/by way of Reuters
The IDF, citing “the evaluation of the skilled authorities,” stated Ariel and Kfir Bibas “have been brutally murdered in captivity in November 2023 by terrorists.” Their father, 35-year-old Yarden Bibas, was additionally kidnapped throughout the Hamas-led terror assault on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, however he survived and was freed earlier this month.
Ismail Al-Thawabta, director-general of Gaza’s Hamas-run Authorities Media Workplace, stated in a press release Friday that the stays of Shiri Bibas have been combined with different human stays beneath the rubble of the place the place she was being held in Gaza after Israeli airstrikes “intentionally” destroyed the realm, “killing her and her youngsters.”
“Netanyahu himself is the one who issued the orders for the direct and cruel bombing, and he’s the one who bears full duty for killing her and her youngsters in a horrific and brutal method,” Al-Thawabta added, noting that the Israeli navy has killed greater than 30,000 Palestinian ladies and kids in Gaza for the reason that present warfare started.
A spokesperson for Nir Oz, the kibbutz in southern Israel the place the Bibas household have been kidnapped from their house, issued a press release Friday apparently in response to Netanyahu vowing “take revenge.”
“We woke as much as a troublesome morning,” the kibbutz spokesperson stated. “On the similar time, we adhere to our values and the clear calls for of the Bibas household at the moment: Launch, not revenge.”
Hamas is predicted to free one other six residing hostages on Saturday adopted by 4 extra our bodies subsequent week as a part of the agreed phrases for the primary part of the ceasefire, which started Jan. 19 and is meant to final 42 days.
Negotiations to set the phrases for the second part haven’t began, however Qatar’s Ministry of Overseas Affairs stated Tuesday that mediators are pushing to have talks start as quickly as doable to permit sufficient time for dialogue earlier than it begins. Hamas has accused Israel of avoiding talks and says it is prepared to barter.
