JERUSALEM – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed revenge Friday for what he described as a “merciless and malicious violation” of the ceasefire settlement after a physique that Hamas launched as a part of the deal was found to not be that of an Israeli mother of two younger boys, because the militants had promised.
The incident has thrown the way forward for the delicate ceasefire into query. Six extra dwelling hostages are scheduled to be launched Saturday as a part of the tenuous ceasefire that has paused over 15 months of struggle.
In an announcement Friday, Hamas stated it will “conduct an intensive overview” of the data concerning the physique, and instructed a attainable mix-up of stays might need occurred resulting from Israeli bombing of the world the place the Israeli hostages have been being held, the place different Palestinians have been additionally current.
Hamas turned over 4 our bodies Thursday as a part of the ceasefire. They have been purported to have been these of Shiri Bibas and her two younger sons, Kfir and Ariel Bibas, and of Oded Lifshitz, who was 83 when he was kidnapped throughout the Hamas assault that began the struggle on Oct. 7, 2023.
Israeli authorities stated that whereas the stays of the 2 boys and of Lifshitz have been positively recognized, the fourth physique was discovered to not be that of Shiri Bibas, however that of an unidentified lady from Gaza.
“We are going to work with willpower to carry Shiri house along with all our hostages — each dwelling and useless — and be certain that Hamas pays the total worth for this merciless and malicious violation of the settlement,” Netanyahu stated. “The sacred reminiscence of Oded Lifshitz and Ariel and Kfir Bibas will likely be perpetually enshrined within the coronary heart of the nation. Could God avenge their blood. And so we are going to avenge.”
Hamas stated it had “little interest in retaining any our bodies,” including that it had “demonstrated full compliance with the settlement in latest days and stay dedicated to all its phrases.”
“We reject Netanyahu’s threats, which serve solely to control Israeli public opinion,” Hamas stated, calling on mediators to make sure the continued implementation of the ceasefire. The group additionally referred to as for the return of the unidentified stays, which Israel has stated are these of a Palestinian lady.
The revelation of the physique’s identification was a surprising twist within the saga surrounding the Bibas family, who’ve grow to be world symbols of the plight of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
In the course of the ceasefire, which started in January, Hamas has been releasing dwelling hostages in alternate for a whole lot of Palestinian prisoners being held in Israeli jails. Thursday’s launch marked the primary time the group has returned the stays of useless hostages.
The Israeli military stated Thursday that the fourth physique launched by Hamas was an “nameless, unidentified physique.” It stated the Bibas household had been notified, together with Yarden Bibas, Shiri’s husband and father of the 2 boys, who had been taken captive individually from his spouse and youngsters and was launched early this month as a part of the ceasefire deal.
Hamas has claimed Lifshitz, Shiri Bibas and her sons have been killed in Israeli airstrikes. However Israel stated the testing had discovered the 2 boys and Lifshitz have been killed by their captors.
U.S. envoy Adam Boehler described the discharge of the fallacious physique as “horrific” and a “clear violation” of the ceasefire.
“If I have been them, I’d launch all people or they’ll face complete annihilation,” Boehler, who serves because the U.S. envoy for hostages, instructed CNN.
It was unclear how the incident would possibly have an effect on the following scheduled swap of hostages for prisoners, set for Saturday. Hamas has stated it should additionally launch 4 extra our bodies subsequent week, finishing the primary section of the ceasefire. It’s also unclear whether or not the truce will likely be prolonged past the tip of the present section, which expires in early March.
In one other potential blow to the deal, a sequence of explosions struck three parked, empty buses in central Israel in a single day.
There have been no accidents and no declare of duty. However the Israeli navy stated in response it was beefing up its forces within the West Financial institution, elevating the chance of additional escalation within the space. Israel has been finishing up a broad navy offensive within the occupied territory because the ceasefire took impact.
If the present section of the ceasefire goes based on plan with the discharge of six hostages on Saturday and 4 extra our bodies subsequent week, Hamas will likely be left with about 60 hostages, about half — all males — believed to nonetheless be alive.
Hamas has stated it gained’t launch the remaining captives with no lasting ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal. Netanyahu, with the full backing of the Trump administration, says he’s dedicated to destroying Hamas’ navy and governing capacities and returning all of the hostages, goals widely seen as mutually exclusive.
Trump’s proposal to take away about 2 million Palestinians from Gaza so the U.S. can personal and rebuild it, which has been welcomed by Netanyahu however universally rejected by Palestinians and Arab international locations, has thrown the ceasefire into additional doubt.
Hamas may very well be reluctant to free extra hostages if it believes that the struggle will resume.
Israel’s navy offensive killed greater than 48,000 Palestinians, principally ladies and youngsters, based on Gaza’s Well being Ministry, which doesn’t distinguish between civilians and combatants. Israel says it has killed greater than 17,000 fighters, with out offering proof.
The offensive destroyed vast areas of Gaza, lowering total neighborhoods to rubble. At its top, the struggle displaced 90% of Gaza’s inhabitants. Many have returned to their houses to search out nothing left and no way of rebuilding.
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