Israel announced on Friday that one of the four bodies returned from Gaza was not that of hostage Shiri Bibas, despite Hamas’ claim. The Israeli military confirmed that the remains of her two sons, Ariel and Kfir, were among those handed over in a hostage-prisoner exchange.
“During the diagnostic process, it was found that the other body handed over does not belong to Shiri Bibas and does not match any other kidnapped individuals,” Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee stated on Telegram.
“We demand Hamas return Shiri Bibas along with all the abductees,” he added.
Israel Accuses Hamas of Killing Bibas Children
Adraee further asserted that Israeli intelligence had determined that Ariel and Kfir were killed by Palestinian “terrorists” in Gaza, contradicting Hamas’ claim that they died in an Israeli airstrike early in the war.
“According to the assessment of the relevant authorities and based on available intelligence and diagnostic indicators, Ariel and Kfir Bibas were brutally killed in captivity in November 2023 by Palestinian terrorists,” Adraee said.
First Handover of Israeli Bodies Under Ceasefire
On Thursday, Hamas handed over what it claimed were the remains of Shiri, Kfir, and Ariel Bibas, who had come to symbolize the plight of Israeli hostages since their abduction on October 7, 2023.
Additionally, Hamas returned the body of Oded Lifshitz, a veteran journalist known for advocating Palestinian rights.
This marked the first time Israeli bodies were handed over as part of the fragile ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
