Israeli Military Denies Body Returned from Gaza is Shiri Bibas

As mourning continues for Shiri Bibas and her children, Israeli officials clarify that, despite assertions by Hamas, one of the bodies sent back is unidentified, marking a significant miscommunication amid ongoing hostilities and negotiations for hostage exchanges.

The Israeli military, known as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), has reported that one of the four bodies recently returned from Gaza does not belong to hostage Shiri Bibas, contrary to claims made by Hamas. The announcement follows intense grief in Israel after the supposed death of Bibas, 33, and her two young sons, Ariel and Kfir, who were abducted during the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023.

The IDF stated they have confirmed the identities of the children’s remains, which were sent back to Israel, but declared that the third body is anonymous and does not match any known hostages. This has raised serious concerns and allegations of mismanagement from Hamas. The IDF's post on the social media platform X claimed, “This is a violation of utmost severity by the Hamas terrorist organization, which is obligated under the agreement to return four deceased hostages. We demand that Hamas return Shiri home along with all our hostages.”

The Bibas family, which has been enduring the trauma of the kidnapping since October, was hopeful the returned bodies would provide closure. The children's father, Yarden Bibas, 34, was released by Hamas earlier this year on February 1. Among the bodies returned on Thursday, the IDF confirmed that veteran peace activist Oded Lifshitz was also identified.

This exchange of bodies was part of a ceasefire deal established on January 19, 2023, which allowed for the returning of hostages' remains and laid out a broader framework for negotiations: 33 hostages were to be exchanged for approximately 1,900 Palestinian prisoners. To date, Israel confirmed the return of around 28 hostages in a series of exchanges, while the ongoing tally of hostages, including the Bibas family, remains at 66.

The tragic events on October 7 resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals, primarily Israeli civilians. The ongoing conflict has led to extensive loss of life on both sides, with the Gaza Strip reportedly housing a significant number of Israeli hostages. Despite talks anticipated earlier this month for further negotiations to secure the release of remaining living hostages, these discussions have yet to commence.