February 21st 2025.
In a shocking turn of events, the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas was violated when a body that was released by the militants was found to not be that of an Israeli mother of two young boys, as promised. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was quick to condemn this "cruel and malicious violation" and vowed revenge.
The incident has raised concerns about the future of the ceasefire, which has paused 15 months of war and is set to end in early March. However, there were indications that the next step of the deal, the release of six living hostages on Saturday, would still take place as planned.
Hamas released a statement on Friday saying they would conduct a thorough review of the situation, suggesting that there may have been a mix-up of remains due to Israeli bombings in the area. The group's military wing also announced that they would still be releasing the six hostages on Saturday, with the expectation that Israel would release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in return.
The body released by Hamas on Thursday was supposed to be that of Shiri Bibas and her two young sons, Kfir and Ariel, along with Oded Lifshitz, who was 83 when he was abducted by Hamas in October 2023, which marked the beginning of the war. While the remains of the two boys and Lifshitz were positively identified, the fourth body was found to be that of an unidentified woman from Gaza, and not Shiri Bibas as expected.
Netanyahu expressed his determination to bring Shiri home, along with all the other hostages, and make sure that Hamas pays for this violation of the agreement. He also paid tribute to the memory of Oded Lifshitz and Ariel and Kfir Bibas, saying they will always be remembered by the nation.
Hamas, on the other hand, stated that they have no interest in keeping any bodies and have been complying with the terms of the ceasefire. They also rejected Netanyahu's threats, calling them a manipulation of Israeli public opinion and urging mediators to ensure the continued implementation of the agreement.
The revelation of the body's identity came as a shock to the Bibas family, who have become symbols of the struggle of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. During the ceasefire, Hamas has been releasing living hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. This was the first time they were returning the remains of dead hostages.
The Israeli army stated that the fourth body released by Hamas was anonymous and unidentified. The Bibas family, including Shiri's husband Yarden, who was released earlier this month, were notified of this development. Hamas claims that Shiri and her sons were killed in Israeli airstrikes, but Israel's testing found that they were actually killed by their captors.
US envoy Adam Boehler described the release of the wrong body as "horrific" and a "clear violation" of the ceasefire. He warned Hamas that they should release all the hostages or face total annihilation. The next scheduled swap of hostages for prisoners is set for Saturday, but it remains unclear if this incident will affect it. Hamas has also promised to release four more bodies next week, completing the first phase of the ceasefire. It is uncertain if the truce will be extended beyond the current phase.
In another potential setback for the deal, three empty buses were targeted by explosions in central Israel overnight. No one was injured, and no group has claimed responsibility. The Israeli military has responded by increasing their presence in the West Bank, which could lead to further escalation. Israel has been carrying out a military offensive in the occupied territory since the ceasefire came into effect.
If everything goes according to plan, Hamas will be left with about 60 hostages after the release of six on Saturday and four more bodies next week. However, the group has stated that they will not release the remaining captives without a lasting ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal. Netanyahu, backed by the Trump administration, has vowed to destroy Hamas' military and governing capacities and bring back all the hostages, goals that seem incompatible.
The recent proposal by Trump to remove 2 million Palestinians from Gaza and allow the US to rebuild the area has been welcomed by Netanyahu but rejected by Palestinians and Arab countries. This has further complicated the ceasefire and could make Hamas reluctant to release more hostages if they believe that the war will resume.
The offensive has resulted in the deaths of over 48,000 Palestinians, mainly women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Israel claims to have killed over 17,000 fighters, but has not provided any evidence. The war has caused massive destruction in Gaza, displacing 90% of the population at its height. Many have returned to find their homes destroyed and no way of rebuilding.
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