February 22, 2025 – London, UK
Tensions between Israel and Hamas escalated on Friday after the Israeli military claimed that one of the four bodies returned by Hamas was not that of an Israeli hostage. This development comes amid an already fragile ceasefire agreement between the two sides.
Disputed Body Identification
On Thursday, Hamas announced it had handed over the remains of four Israeli hostages: 32-year-old Shiri Bibas; her children, Ariel Bibas, 4, and Kfir Bibas, 8 1/2 months; and 84-year-old Oded Lifshitz. However, following forensic analysis, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the identities of Lifshitz and the two Bibas children but stated that the fourth body was not Shiri Bibas nor any known hostage.
Calling the incident a “serious violation” of the ongoing ceasefire, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hamas of extreme cruelty. “Not only did they kidnap the father, Yarden Bibas, the young mother, Shiri, and their two small babies. In an unspeakably cynical manner, they did not return Shiri to her little children,” Netanyahu said.
Conflicting Accounts of Deaths
The IDF alleged that Hamas killed the Bibas children “with their bare hands” while they were held hostage in Gaza, denying Hamas’ claims that the children died in an Israeli airstrike. “Following a forensic examination, we can confirm that baby Kfir Bibas and his brother Ariel were brutally murdered by terrorists no later than November 2023,” said IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari.
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In response, Hamas denied Israel’s accusations, calling them “pure lies” and insisting the Bibas family was killed in an Israeli airstrike. Hamas stated it is investigating the alleged mix-up and called for the return of the Palestinian woman’s body that was mistakenly handed over.
International and Political Reactions
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) confirmed the transfer of the human remains to Israeli authorities but refrained from providing additional details.
Meanwhile, Ofri Bibas Levy, sister of Yarden Bibas, urged Netanyahu to focus on rescuing the remaining hostages rather than seeking revenge. “For Ariel and Kfir’s sake, and for Yarden’s sake, we are not seeking revenge right now. We are asking for Shiri. Save the lives of the living hostages and return all the fallen for burial,” she said.
Next Steps and Ceasefire Agreement
Hamas is expected to release six living hostages on Saturday and an additional four bodies next week, as part of the current ceasefire deal initiated on January 19. The agreement’s second phase remains under negotiation, with mediators pushing for talks to resume soon.
As the crisis unfolds, both sides remain at odds over the circumstances of the deaths and the future of the ceasefire. Further developments are expected in the coming days.
