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Hamas Fails to Return Shiri Bibas’ Body, Escalating Tensions in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
On Thursday, Hamas returned four bodies to Israel, but the Israeli military has stated that one of the bodies is not that of Shiri Bibas, marking this as a significant breach of a fragile ceasefire agreement. The situation continues to unfold, highlighting the complexities and emotional toll surrounding the ongoing conflict.
The Israeli military confirmed that two of the bodies belonged to Bibas’ children, Ariel and Kfir, on Friday morning. However, they specified, “During the identification process, it was determined that the additional body received is not that of Shiri Bibas, and no match was found for any other hostage. This is an anonymous, unidentified body.” The military’s statements reflect not only a demand for the return of Bibas but also a wider call for the release of all hostages held by Hamas.
In a statement issued by the military, they articulated their demand: “We demand that Hamas return Shiri home along with all our hostages.” As of now, Hamas has not responded to this request. This incident marks the first occasion on which Hamas has returned the remains of deceased hostages since the onset of the conflict.
Israeli authorities informed the family of Shiri Bibas, including her husband Yarden Bibas, a former hostage himself, who was released earlier this month as part of the ceasefire arrangement. Shiri Bibas and her children have become emblematic figures in the aftermath of the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023. According to Hamas, the Bibas family was killed in an Israeli airstrike during the initial stages of the conflict. Additionally, the body of an 85-year-old man, Oded Lifshitz, has been confirmed as one of the returned deceased, according to his relatives.
In light of the situation, a senior U.S. official expressed serious concerns regarding Hamas’ actions. Adam Boehler, the U.S. envoy for hostages, described the failure to return Shiri Bibas’ remains as “horrific” and a “clear violation” of the ceasefire agreement designed to ease hostilities in the Gaza Strip. He warned Hamas, saying, “If I were them, I’d release everybody or they are going to face total annihilation.”
This tension comes amid broader military escalations, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered intensified military operations against what he termed “terror hubs” in the occupied West Bank. This announcement followed explosions that targeted three buses in Bat Yam, a city near Tel Aviv, which authorities have classified as a suspected terrorist incident. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported as a result of the blasts.
Israeli police reported the discovery of explosives on two other buses, which did not detonate. Police spokesperson Asi Aharoni indicated that bomb squads were actively defusing the unexploded devices. There has been no immediate responsibility claimed for these incidents.
Since October 2023, Israel has escalated its military operations in the occupied West Bank, reportedly resulting in hundreds of Palestinian casualties. According to the UN, at least 51 Palestinians, including seven children, have been killed in a crackdown initiated on January 21.
The recent handover of bodies signifies a potential turning point, as it is anticipated that six living hostages will return on Saturday, in exchange for a substantial number of Palestinian detainees, particularly women and minors held in Israeli custody in Gaza.
Efforts are currently underway to negotiate a second phase, which aims to enable the return of approximately 60 hostages, many of whom are believed to still be alive, while seeking a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza to facilitate an end to hostilities in the region.
Reuters and Associated Press contributed to this report.
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