The Israeli army received four coffins from Hamas on 20 February, but one of them contained the body of a Gaza resident, not a hostage. Photo: Idf Spokesperson/ZUMA Press Wire / Shutterstock Editorial
The Israeli army has said that one of the bodies handed over to Hamas does not belong to any known hostages, the Israeli Defence Forces said, according to the Times of Israel.
The bodies of Ariel, who was four years old, and his ten-month-old brother Kfir Bibas were identified. However, the third body, which was supposed to belong to their mother, Shira Bibas, was unidentified. Forensic experts in Abu Kabir were unable to identify the deceased.
The Israeli authorities, based on intelligence and forensic evidence, believe that the children were brutally murdered by Hamas militants in November 2023. The Israeli Defence Forces accused the terrorist group of violating an agreement under which four bodies of dead hostages were to be returned.
Israel demands the return of Shiri Bibas and all the abducted hostages.
