Abdelrahman
On Friday, Hamas announced that it had transferred the remains of a woman to the Red Cross, believed to be Shiri Bibas, an Israeli mother who was taken captive alongside her two young sons during the tragic attack on October 7, 2023. This incident became emblematic of the deep sorrow felt across Israel.
Initial reports suggested that Ms. Bibas’s remains were returned to Israel on Thursday, alongside those of her children, as a result of a negotiated exchange involving Palestinian prisoners. However, subsequent DNA testing revealed that the body was not Ms. Bibas, leading to confusion over the earlier repatriation.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) stated, “This evening, at the request of the involved parties, our team received human remains, which were then handed over to the Israeli authorities.” They clarified that they could not provide further details about the remains.
The Israeli military is currently reviewing reports regarding the previous repatriation of remains. Mousa Abu Marzouk, who oversees Hamas’s foreign relations, indicated through a message that the remains returned on Friday were thought to be those of Ms. Bibas. Another anonymous Hamas official also confirmed the transfer and expressed confidence that the correct body was relinquished.
Additionally, a third Hamas representative, Mahmoud Mardawi, spoke to Al Araby TV, reiterating that the remains of Ms. Bibas had indeed been submitted.
It remains uncertain whether the correct body was successfully returned on Friday. These developments come shortly after Hamas mistakenly transferred the wrong remains, marking yet another episode in the evolving situation amid a temporary ceasefire. To date, 19 living Israeli hostages have been exchanged for numerous Palestinian prisoners during this complex negotiation process.
