Israeli military says body released by Hamas isn't a hostage

Israelis mourn the deaths of hostages taken by Hamas in its October 7, 2023, attack in Tel Aviv, February 20, 2025. /GCG

The Israeli military said on Friday that one of the bodies released by Hamas did not belong to any of the hostages held in Gaza, accusing Hamas of violating an already shaky ceasefire.

Two of the bodies were identified as infant Kfir Bibas and his four-year-old brother Ariel, while a third body that was supposed to be their mother, Shiri, was found not to match any hostage and remained unidentified, the military said.

"This is a violation of utmost severity by the Hamas terrorist organization, which is obliged under the agreement to return four deceased hostages," the military said in a statement, demanding the return of Shiri and all hostages.

The family of hostage Oded Lifshitz said in a statement that his body had been formally identified.

There was no immediate reaction from Hamas.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier vowed revenge on Hamas after the group released the remains of what it said were four hostages, including that of Kfir and Ariel, the youngest of those abducted during the October 7, 2023, attack.

Palestinian militants handed over four black coffins in a public display as a crowd of Palestinians and armed Hamas members watched, creating a spectacle that was condemned by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

The purported remains of the boys, their mother and Lifshitz were handed over under the Gaza ceasefire agreement reached last month with the backing of the United States and the mediation of Qatar and Egypt.

Source(s): Reuters