Hamas has reported that they handed over the body of Shiri Bibas, an Israeli hostage, to the Red Cross following a previous incident where the wrong remains were sent. This development comes as part of a delicate cease-fire arrangement amidst strained relations and ongoing negotiations for further prisoner exchanges.
Hamas Claims Correct Body of Israeli Hostage Shiri Bibas Returned
Hamas Claims Correct Body of Israeli Hostage Shiri Bibas Returned
Hamas announces the delivery of Shiri Bibas' remains to the Red Cross, amid ongoing tensions over hostage exchanges after a DNA mix-up.
Hamas stated on Friday that it has returned the body of a woman it believes to be Shiri Bibas to the Red Cross, following a troubling incident where a different body was wrongly identified as hers just a day earlier. The situation highlights the emotional toll of the hostage crisis that began on October 7, 2023, during an attack that left many families shattered.
Initially, Bibas’s remains were thought to have been repatriated alongside those of her two young sons in a humanitarian gesture tied to a complex prisoner exchange negotiation. However, subsequent DNA testing revealed that the remains were not hers, leading to significant backlash and confusion. Mousa Abu Marzouk, Hamas's foreign relations chief, maintained that the latest handover should rectify the previous mistake, pointing to the group’s eagerness to uphold the cease-fire.
The International Committee of the Red Cross has not commented on its involvement in retrieving the remains. Meanwhile, the Israeli military confirmed it was still reviewing reports regarding the repatriation and the integrity of Hamas's claims.
In a previous exchange, Hamas had delivered the bodies of four hostages, including Shiri Bibas and her two sons, sparking public displays of grief and anger as the remains were presented in caskets adorned with their photos. The identity of Ariel and Kfir, her children, was confirmed; however, the situation regarding their mother created a serious diplomatic challenge.
Despite the unfortunate mix-up, negotiations for further exchanges continue to unfold, with the current cease-fire slated to expire in less than two weeks, leaving both sides under pressure to solidify future terms.
