The Israeli Prime Minister has vowed that Hamas will "pay the full price" for failing to release the body of an Israeli hostage, along with the remains of her two young children. This follows Hamas's release of the remains of four Israelis, claiming they died while being held captive in Gaza. The Prime Minister's statement underscores the gravity of the situation and the determination to hold Hamas accountable.
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02-23, 2025Hamas stated that the four individuals were Shiri Bibas and her two sons, Ariel and Kfir, as well as another man, Oded Lifshitz. All were kidnapped from the same community, Kibbutz Nir Oz, during the Hamas terror attack on October 7, 2023. The remains have been transferred to Israel's National Center of Forensic Medicine in Tel Aviv for identification, with Mr. Lifshitz's death quickly confirmed. This confirmation process is crucial for providing closure to the families and understanding the circumstances of their deaths.
However, hours later, a shocking development emerged – Israeli authorities stated that while the remains of Ariel and Kfir Bibas had been identified, the fourth set of remains was not their mother and did not belong to any Israeli hostage. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly condemned Hamas's actions in a threatening video statement released on Friday morning (local time). The discrepancy in the identified remains has added another layer of complexity and outrage to the already sensitive situation.
Prime Minister Netanyahu stated: "We will act firmly to bring Shiri and all our hostages, the living and the dead, home, and to ensure that Hamas pays the full price for this cruelty and evil. The cruelty of the Hamas monsters is endless. Not only did they kidnap father Yarden Bibas, young mother Shiri and their two little babies in an unspeakable act of cynicism, they did not return Shiri to her children, these little angels, but put the body of a Gazan woman in the coffin." Yarden Bibas was released alive nearly three weeks ago. The Prime Minister's strong words reflect the national sentiment of anger and determination to bring all hostages home.
It remains unclear how Israel plans to respond to the current situation, particularly at a critical juncture in the already fragile ceasefire agreement with Hamas in Gaza. Hamas stated on Friday that it would investigate whether a mistake had been made in confirming the body as that of Ms. Bibas, or whether the remains had been confused due to past Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. The group's official statement echoed earlier remarks made by Ismail al-Thawabta, the director of the Gaza government media office. Al-Thawabta stated: "Netanyahu himself gave the order for direct and relentless bombing, and he bears full responsibility for killing her and her children in a terrible and brutal manner." The investigation's findings could have significant implications for future negotiations and the overall stability of the region.
Hamas is expected to release another six living Israeli hostages on Saturday – Eliya Cohen, Omer Shem Tov, Tal Shoham, Omer Wenkert, Hisham al-Sayed, and Avera Mengisto. In exchange, Israeli authorities will release dozens of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. The remains of another four deceased Israeli hostages are also expected to be handed over next week. This will complete the list of 33 Israelis slated for release during the six-week truce. These exchanges are crucial for maintaining the fragile peace and providing hope to the families of those involved.
Negotiations regarding a lasting peace in Gaza are ongoing, but with little progress, and the current ceasefire agreement is set to expire on March 2. These negotiations will be even more difficult than the efforts to reach the initial truce, as they need to address issues such as the continued governance and reconstruction of Gaza. The complexity of these issues highlights the long and challenging road ahead in achieving a sustainable resolution to the conflict.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum stated that they were "shocked and grieved" by the news that Shiri Bibas had not been returned. The group reiterated its call for an extension of the ceasefire agreement and for the remaining hostages to be brought back to Israel. "In Hamas's hell in Gaza, there are still more than 70 of our children, brothers, sisters and parents being held captive, enduring unimaginable horrors," the group said in a statement. "Do not abandon them to their fate. Save them from this nightmare. Every minute that passes is a death sentence for those who are still alive, and threatens our ability to bring back the dead for proper burial. Israel and the international community must stand firm to ensure that agreements are honored, while addressing these blatant violations with wisdom and urgency. The horrors of the past 24 hours underscore the urgent need to accelerate efforts, act decisively, and above all – bring them all home." The Forum's impassioned plea underscores the desperate need for continued efforts to secure the release of all hostages and bring closure to their families.
