In a distressing development, Hamas released a body on Friday, claiming it to be that of Israeli hostage Shiri Bibas. This misidentification threatens to unravel the fragile ceasefire in Gaza, which has been in place since last month.
The body was transferred via the Red Cross, and Israeli medical authorities have initiated forensic examinations to confirm its identity. The Palestinian militant group had previously agreed to hand over the remains of Shiri Bibas, her two young sons Kfir and Ariel, and a fourth unidentified hostage on Thursday.
While the Bibas boys and another hostage, Oded Lifshitz, were confirmed, Israeli specialists have identified the fourth body as that of an unidentified woman, not Shiri Bibas, who was abducted along with her family during the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.
Basem Naim, a member of the Hamas political bureau, acknowledged the mistake, citing the chaos caused by Israeli bombings that have mixed the bodies of Israeli hostages and Palestinians. He emphasized Hamas's commitment to returning remains and adhering to agreements.
The erroneous handover has escalated tensions in Israel, prompting Prime Minister Netanyahu to vow a determined response to ensure all hostages are brought home and to hold Hamas accountable. Netanyahu stated, \"We will act with determination to bring Shiri home along with all our hostages – both living and dead – and ensure Hamas pays the full price for this cruel and evil violation of the agreement.\"
Hamas has claimed that Shiri and her children were killed in an Israeli airstrike, with Ismail Al-Thawabta, director of the Gaza government media office, attributing the deaths to Netanyahu's actions. However, the Israeli military countered, stating that intelligence and forensic analyses indicate the Bibas children were killed by Hamas militants.
The U.N. Human Rights Office has called for an effective investigation, highlighting the humanitarian importance of returning the deceased's remains. This incident underscores the delicate nature of the ceasefire, brokered with U.S., Qatari, and Egyptian mediation, and raises concerns about its sustainability amidst ongoing hostilities.
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Hamas releases new hostage body after misidentification of Shiri Bibas
cgtn.com
