Hamas Says It Has Returned a Body It Believes to Be Shiri Bibas
Israeli authorities are gearing up to verify the identity of remains believed to belong to hostage Shiri Bibas, following the prior determination that another body, claimed by Hamas to be Bibas's, was not actually hers.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported receiving a coffin from Hamas and passed human remains to Israeli officials. The ICRC stated they could not verify the specifics or origin of these remains.
Initially, it was thought that Ms. Bibas's body had been returned to Israel alongside her two children on Thursday as part of a swap deal involving Palestinian prisoners. However, after a DNA test, it was confirmed that the body was not Ms. Bibas.
“Tonight, at the request of the parties, an ICRC team received human remains, which were then transferred to Israeli authorities,” The International Committee of the Red Cross said on Friday, adding, “The ICRC cannot confirm any additional details.”
Mousa Abu Marzouk, head of Hamas's foreign relations, indicated via text that the body handed over on Friday was believed to be Ms. Bibas's. Another Hamas official, speaking anonymously due to the delicate nature of the matter, confirmed this transfer, claiming it to be the correct body this time.
In Tel Aviv, at a forensic institute, the identities of Ariel, Kfir, and Mr. Lifshitz were confirmed by Israeli officials.
Hamas maintains that Shiri and her two boys were victims of an Israeli airstrike in 2023, later suggesting a mix-up with another victim's body from the same airstrike, promising an investigation.
The Israeli military has dismissed Hamas’s explanation of the deaths of the Bibas family, with spokesperson Daniel Hagari asserting that the boys were killed "with bare hands" by terrorists, a claim Hamas rebuffed as false.
On Friday, the Israeli Ministry of Health announced that its forensic team was diligently working to identify the recently received body, emphasizing the importance of handling the matter with both speed and care, urging the public to avoid speculation and to rely solely on official statements, calling for respect for the family's privacy during this delicate period.
