Shiri Bibas’ remains may have been mixed with others under Gaza rubble, says Hamas

A Hamas official told AFP today that the remains of Israeli captive Shiri Bibas may have been inadvertently mixed with those of others who were killed and buried under rubble in Gaza.

“It is likely that Mrs Bibas’ body was mistakenly mixed with others found under the rubble,” the official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated, adding that the group was “investigating” the matter.

This statement followed Israel’s announcement that one of the bodies Hamas handed over yesterday was not that of Bibas, despite the group’s earlier claims.

Hamas had transferred what it said were the remains of four captives, including three members of the Bibas family, Shiri Bibas and her two young sons, along with an elderly captive. While Israeli forensic teams confirmed the identities of the Bibas boys, Kfir and Ariel, as well as the elderly hostage, Oded Lifshitz, they determined that the fourth body was not Shiri Bibas.

Following this, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a warning to Hamas, stating: “We will act with determination to bring Shiri home along with all our hostages – both living and dead – and ensure Hamas pays the full price for this cruel and evil violation of the agreement.”

A Hamas official stated that the group had notified mediators in November 2023 of its willingness to hand over the bodies of the three Bibas family members.

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“Mediators were informed at the time and it was also announced in a statement when the Bibas family was killed along with their captors in an Israeli air strike,” the official said. “Hamas had offered to return their bodies in November 2023, but Netanyahu refused at the time.”

Hamas maintains that Israeli air strikes were responsible for the deaths of the captives and insists it treated them humanely while attempting to protect them.

Meanwhile, Hamas spokesman Ismail Al-Thwabta wrote on X that Shiri Bibas’ remains appeared to have been mixed with other bodies buried under the rubble of a structure following an Israeli air strike.

He wrote:

There is no weight for the anger of the war criminal Netanyahu regarding the body of Mother Bibas, which was turned into pieces after it was apparently mixed with other bodies under the rubble of a place that was intentionally and deliberately bombed by the occupation [Israeli] warplanes.

“Netanyahu himself is the one who issued orders for the direct and merciless bombing, and he is the one who bears full responsibility for killing her and her children with horrific brutality.”

Netanyahu’s threats against Gaza come as public anger mounts over the return of Israeli captives in coffins for the first time in the exchange deal.

The Israeli opposition has blamed Netanyahu for the deaths, arguing that he stalled a prisoner swap for months to avoid jeopardising his fragile coalition, which includes far-right ministers pushing for the war in Gaza to continue.

The Gaza ceasefire deal took effect last month, halting Israel’s genocidal war that has killed more than 48,300 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and left the enclave in ruins.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November for Netanyahu and his former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its bombing of the enclave.

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