Jerusalem – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to take action against Hamas after the militant group failed to return the body of hostage Shiri Bibas, as previously agreed. The move threatens to destabilize the fragile ceasefire in Gaza, which has been in place for a month.
On Thursday, Hamas transferred four bodies to Israeli authorities, but experts determined that one of them belonged to an unidentified woman rather than Bibas. Netanyahu denounced the act as “unspeakably cynical,” accusing Hamas of substituting Bibas’ remains with those of a Gazan woman. Bibas was abducted on October 7, 2023, alongside her husband, Yarden, and their two young sons, Kfir and Ariel. The bodies of the children were among those returned and confirmed.
“We will take decisive action to bring Shiri home, along with all our hostages—both the living and the dead—and ensure Hamas pays a heavy price for this cruel betrayal,” Netanyahu said in a video address.
Hamas official Ismail Al-Thawabta claimed that Bibas’ remains were mixed with other human remains after being buried under rubble from an Israeli airstrike. He alleged that Netanyahu had directly ordered the attack that killed her and her children. Hamas previously stated in November 2023 that the Bibas family had perished in an Israeli strike, while Israel’s military suggested forensic evidence indicated the children were deliberately killed by their captors.
While Netanyahu has not specified Israel’s next steps, the incident underscores the ceasefire’s fragility. Meanwhile, the release of six living hostages is scheduled for Saturday, with negotiations for a second phase of the truce set to begin. However, tensions have escalated, particularly after explosions occurred near Tel Aviv, targeting empty buses. Although there were no casualties, the attacks raised concerns of renewed violence reminiscent of the deadly suicide bombings during the Second Intifada.
Both Israel and Hamas have accused each other of ceasefire violations. Hamas has threatened to delay hostage releases, claiming that Israel is blocking the entry of housing materials and aid into Gaza—an allegation Israel denies. The public display of the four coffins by Hamas on Thursday has sparked outrage in Israel, increasing pressure on Netanyahu from hardliners demanding retaliation.
Despite the anger and grief, a key group representing hostage families urged the ceasefire to continue, emphasizing the need to secure the safe return of the remaining 70 hostages.
“Save them from this nightmare,” the Hostages and Missing Families Forum pleaded in a statement.