Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised retaliation against Hamas following the revelation that the body found in a coffin bearing Shiri Bibas’ name and image belonged to an unidentified woman, not the abducted mother of two.
On Thursday, Hamas was expected to return the remains of Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas, along with Oded Lifshitz. However, during the verification process, Israel discovered that the body inside Shiri’s coffin did not belong to her.
“These heartless acts by Hamas also extended to the mother of the boys, Shiri, as they callously substituted her body with that of a woman from Gaza, a clear breach of the agreed terms,” Netanyahu expressed in a statement on Friday.
Ofri Bibas Levy, whose brother Yarden, 34, was taken hostage with his wife Shiri, 32, and two children, Airel and Kfir. (REUTERS/Denis Balibouse)
The revelation that Shiri’s body was not returned alongside her sons sparked widespread outrage. World leaders and celebrities, including Dr. Phil and Patricia Heaton, condemned Hamas’ actions and expressed their disgust with the terror group.
Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-Ny, who has been outspoken about his support for Israel, slammed those criticizing the Jewish state’s response to Hamas’ attacks.
“Those who insist that Israel stop defending itself in the face of genocidal terror are asking the world’s only Jewish State to sign a suicide pact that no other nation-state, including our own, would ever sign,” Torres wrote on X.
U.S. Envoy for Hostages Adam Boehler called Hamas’ actions “horrific” and “a clear violation” of the ceasefire agreement while speaking with CNN’s Anderson Cooper on Thursday. Boehler warned that if Hamas does not release all the remaining hostages, it will “face total annihilation.”
Netanyahu also delivered a message to the fallen Israelis whose bodies were returned by Hamas on Thursday.
“Ariel, Kfir and Oded: I am so sorry we couldn’t save you from the monsters who did this. We honor your kind and loving souls, so tragically cut down by evil terror,” the prime minister said.
Israel is preparing to receive six living hostages on Saturday, two of whom have been held hostage in Gaza for over a decade.
