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Body of Hostage Returned by Hamas Is Wrong Person: Israel

The bodies of two brothers and another hostage were confirmed—but questions remain about one.

Israeli soldiers carry the coffins of deceased hostages Oded Lifschitz, Shiri Bibas and her two children Kfir and Ariel Bibas, who were kidnapped during the deadly October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas, and were handed over under the terms of a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, in the Gaza Strip in this handout image obtained by Reuters on February 20, 2025.

GPO/via REUTERS

By Matt Young

Israel has released its conclusions after an investigation into the return of four bodies by Hamas—claiming one of them is not who the terror group claims it is. Three bodies, Oded Lifshitz, who was 83 when captured, and two baby bothers who captured the nation, Ariel and Kfir Bibas, 4- and 10-months-old, were correctly identified. However, after testing by the National Institute of Forensic Medicine and the Israel Police, the body of the boys' mother, Shiri, was determined to be someone else, the Israeli military said. The returned body does not match any other Israel hostage, it continued. “This is an anonymous, unidentified body.” Forensic testing and intelligence suggests the boys were murdered in Nov. 2023, the military added. “This is a violation of utmost severity by the Hamas terrorist organization, which is obligated under the agreement to return four deceased hostages. We demand that Hamas return Shiri home along with all our hostages,” the Israeli military said in a statement. The boys' father and Shiri’s husband, Yarden Bibas, was released by Hamas alive under the January 2025 ceasefire deal. He spent 484 days in captivity.

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Matt Young
Matt YoungNight Editor

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