**JERUSALEM** – Following what he termed a “cruel and malicious violation” of a ceasefire agreement during a recent incident, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to take action. This came after authorities confirmed that a body handed over by Hamas was not the Israeli mother of two boys as had been promised by the militant group.
This development has generated uncertainty around the future of the tenuous ceasefire, which has brought a halt to over 15 months of conflict, although it has now nearly reached the end of its initial phase. However, there remain indications that the next aspect of the agreement—anticipated to happen Saturday with the release of six Israeli hostages in exchange for several hundred Palestinian prisoners—will likely proceed as scheduled.
In response, Hamas suggested that there may have been a mix-up regarding the remains, claiming that Israeli airstrikes on the area could have complicated matters. The militant group stated they would conduct a “thorough review” to examine the situation further. The Red Cross later reported that it had received human remains from within Gaza and had transferred them to Israeli authorities for identification at a forensics lab, although the timeline for confirmation was not disclosed.
Hamas leader Mahmoud Mardawi, in an interview with a Qatari TV network, confirmed that the Red Cross had received the body of Shiri Bibas from their custody. Meanwhile, Dr. Salem Attalah of the Palestinian Mujahedeen Brigades stated that they had facilitated this handover. This group is known to collaborate with Palestinian Islamic Jihad and is thought to have been holding Bibas and her children, Kfir and Ariel.
In other significant news, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he would not push his controversial plan to take control of Gaza, which involves rebuilding the territory as a tourist destination, displacing its current Palestinian inhabitants. While Netanyahu has shown support for this concept, it has been met with widespread rejection from Palestinian and Arab leaders.
The military branch of Hamas, known as the Al-Qassam Brigades, has confirmed its intent to proceed with the planned release of the six Israeli hostages this Saturday. Earlier this week, Hamas had returned four bodies as part of the ceasefire arrangement, which were believed to be those of Shiri Bibas, her sons, and another individual, Oded Lifshitz, who was abducted during the previous month’s attack.
Israeli officials confirmed that they had positively identified the remains of Lifshitz and the two boys, while the last body was found to be that of an unidentified woman from Gaza. Addressing the situation, Netanyahu declared, “We will work tireless to bring Shiri home together with all our hostages, living and deceased, ensuring Hamas pays for this violation.” He also emphasized that the memories of those lost would be honored in the national consciousness.
Hamas responded by asserting it had no intent to withhold any bodies and insisted on compliance with the ceasefire terms. They dismissed Netanyahu’s threats as attempts to sway public sentiment in Israel, calling for mediators to aid in sustaining the ceasefire’s implementation.
In a poignant response, the aunt of the Bibas children criticized Netanyahu for what she saw as a lack of accountability, stating they were abandoned by officials at the time of the attacks. “We are not focused on revenge at this point. Our plea is for Shiri,” expressed Ofri Bibas Levy in a video post by a group representing families of hostages.
This incident has become a significant chapter in the ongoing narrative of the Bibas family, recognized as representative of the hardships faced by Israeli hostages. Throughout the ongoing ceasefire initiated in January, Hamas has gradually released hostages in exchange for numerous Palestinian prisoners. Recently, it marked the first instance of the return of deceased hostages’ remains.
The Israeli military stated that the unidentified body released by Hamas was indeed anonymous. They also confirmed that Shiri Bibas’ husband, Yarden, had been informed about the situation. Yarden was previously released earlier this month as part of the initial ceasefire efforts, while he had been taken captive separately from his family.
Hamas has alleged that the victims were killed in Israeli airstrikes, while Israeli sources claim they were killed by their captors. U.S. hostage envoy Adam Boehler characterized the incident as “horrific” and a violation of the ceasefire agreement, suggesting that Hamas could face severe consequences if they do not release all remaining hostages.
The six Israeli hostages set to be released soon are reported to be the final living captives within the current ceasefire phase. Those include Eliya Cohen, Omer Shem Tov, and Omer Wenkert, all kidnapped during last month’s assaults, along with Tal Shoham and two others who had crossed into Gaza years prior. The total prisoner exchange will involve the release of over 600 Palestinian detainees from Israeli prisons.
Hamas announced plans to release four additional bodies next week as part of completing this phase of the ceasefire. Uncertainties loom over whether the truce can be prolonged amidst heightened tensions following an explosion incident involving parked buses in Israel, which resulted in no claims of responsibility.
Hamas has indicated it will not release remaining captives unless a permanent ceasefire and full Israeli withdrawal are established. Netanyahu, with backing from the Trump administration, has emphasized his resolve to dismantle Hamas militarily while recovering all hostages, a situation increasingly viewed as contradictory.
Trump’s proposal to relocate a significant number of Palestinians from Gaza to implement his vision for tourism development has further complicated the ceasefire scenario. The former president expressed surprise at the rejection of this plan by Egypt and Jordan, asserting that he would not enforce it but rather recommend it.
Given the prevailing atmosphere of distrust, it seems unlikely that Hamas will concede to releasing more hostages if it perceives a resumption of hostilities. As the military offensive continues, significant loss of life has been reported, with thousands of Palestinians believed to have died as a result of the conflict, coupled with extensive destruction across Gaza. Many families find themselves returning to devastation, grappling with the prospect of rebuilding their lives amidst ongoing uncertainty.
