Israel has confirmed the identities of two of the deceased individuals returned by Hamas on Thursday as Ariel and Kfir Bibas. However, DNA tests have revealed that the body believed to be that of their mother, Shiri, does not match her DNA and does not correspond to any other missing Israeli hostage.
The Israeli military has stated that forensic evidence and intelligence indicate that the boys were murdered, condemning the actions of the Hamas terrorist organization for this violation. According to the agreement, Hamas was supposed to return four deceased hostages, including Shiri, and the Israeli military is demanding the return of Shiri and all other hostages.
Earlier on Thursday, Hamas handed over four bodies to Israel, claiming that they belonged to the three Bibas family members and Oded Lifshitz. Lifshitz, who was 83 years old when he was kidnapped alongside his wife in Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023, was confirmed to be one of the deceased individuals by Dr. Chen Kugel, the head of Israel's National Center of Forensic Medicine.
Dr. Kugel did not provide any comments regarding the Bibas family members at the press conference. The situation has raised concerns and questions about the identities of the bodies returned by Hamas and the fate of the missing individuals. The Israeli authorities continue to investigate the matter and seek clarity on the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the individuals involved.
