Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Friday to make Hamas pay “the full price” after one of the four bodies returned by Hamas on Thursday was not a hostage.
Hamas claimed to have handed over 32-year-old Shiri Bibas along with her two children—Ariel Bibas and Kfir Bibas—and 84-year-old Oded Lifschitz. But a forensic analysis determined it was not Shiri Bibas but an unidentified Gazan woman.
"The cruelty of the Hamas monsters knows no bounds," Netanyahu said in a statement Friday. "Not only did they kidnap the father, Yarden Bibas, the young mother, Shiri, and their two small babies. In an unspeakably cynical manner, they did not return Shiri to her little children, the little angels, and they put the body of a Gazan woman in a coffin."
"We will act with determination to bring Shiri home along with all our hostages -- both living and dead -- and ensure that Hamas pays the full price for this cruel and evil violation of the agreement," he added.
Their bodies return home to a nation in mourning. A nation that will never forget and never forgive the evil that cut down these beautiful souls.
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) February 21, 2025
Against all odds, we succeeded to bring many home. Some we rescued. Some we tragically couldn't.
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) February 21, 2025
The Bibas children in particular became the symbol of who we are, and who we're fighting against.
She fought like a lioness to protect her boys. Just imagine their horror. Imagine their confusion. Perfect little children who never hurt a soul.
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) February 21, 2025
A baby, for the love of God.
They languished in captivity until Hamas murdered them in cold blood.
Today the heavens shake.
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) February 21, 2025
The entire civilized world should condemn these horrific murders. The entire civilized world should join Israel in demanding the immediate release of all the hostages. All of Israel is united in grief.
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.
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) February 21, 2025
May your memories forever be a blessing and a reminder to all of us that we must fight this evil and eradicate it from the face of this earth.
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) February 21, 2025
In a statement, Hamas said it could have been an "error or overlap in the bodies, which may be the result of the occupation targeting and bombing the place where the family was with other Palestinians."
The terror group said it will "examine these claims very seriously" and "announce the results clearly," while also calling for the Gazan woman's body back.
Pointing to "the assessment of professional officials," the IDF said Thursday the two children "were brutally murdered by terrorists in captivity in November 2023."
𝟗-𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡-𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐊𝐟𝐢𝐫 𝐁𝐢𝐛𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝟒-𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫-𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐥 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝟐 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝:
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) February 20, 2025
Following the completion of the identification process by the…