Hamas has suggested that Bibas’ remains might have been mixed up due to Israeli bombing in the area where the hostages were being held and said it was investigating.It comes after one of the bodies released by Hamas on Thursday, which was supposed to be the body of Shiri Bibas, turned out to be that of an unidentified Palestinian woman.
No injuries in Israeli bus explosion amid suspected militant attack, police say
Israel receives bodies of four hostages returned by Hamas
The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas appeared in even further jeopardy after the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said on Friday that Shiri Bibas’ two sons, Ariel, four, and Kfir, nine months, whose bodies were returned to Israel, had been “murdered” by Hamas with their “bare hands”.
“Ariel and Kfir Bibas were murdered by terrorists in cold blood,” Daniel Hagari an IDF spokesperson, said.
“The terrorists did not shoot the two young boys, they killed them with their bare hands. Afterwards, they committed horrific acts to cover up these atrocities.”
Hamas claimed that Ariel and Kfir Bibas and their mother, Shiri Bibas were killed in Israeli airstrikes. But Israel said tests found the two boys were killed by their captors.
Bibas and her sons were abducted from their home on October 7, 2023. Yarden Bibas, the father, was taken separately and released on February 1.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Hamas would “pay the full price” for what he described as a “cruel and malicious violation” of the ceasefire agreement.
The incident has thrown the future of the fragile ceasefire into question just as six more living hostages are scheduled to be released on Saturdayt .. Six hostages will be released by Hamas today, while Israel sets free hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in line with the ceasefire deal.
It comes after the body of Shiri Bibas was returned to Israel after remains that were not hers were handed over along with the bodies of her sons.
Six hostages will be released by Hamas today, while Israel sets free hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in line with the ceasefire deal. It comes after the body of Shiri Bibas was returned to Israel after remains that were not hers were handed over along with the bodies of her sons.According to the prisons office, which is run by Hamas, 50 of those had been sentenced to life imprisonment, 60 described as having “high” sentences, 47 prisoners from the “Wafa al Ahrar” 2011 prisoner exchange deal who have since been re-arrested, and 445 who were arrested after 7 October attacks.
The “Wafa al-Ahrar” deal was the 2011 prisoner exchange agreement that saw the release of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in exchange for 1027 Palestinian prisoners.
Among the most high-profile Palestinians to be released today is Nael Barghouti – the longest serving prisoner, who has been inside for 43 years.
Hussam Abu Safiya is another you may be familiar with – being the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital – who was detained in December.
