The remains of two child hostages have been identified, but another body released by Hamas was not the boys’ mother, the Israeli military has said.
Hamas militants turned over four bodies on Thursday under the tenuous ceasefire that has paused more than 15 months of war.
Israel confirmed one body was that of Oded Lifshitz, who was 83 when he was abducted during the Hamas attack that started the war on October 7 2023.
The remains of Ariel and Kfir Bibas were identified by the National Institute of Forensic Medicine in collaboration with the Israel Police and the families were notified, the Israeli Defence Force said in a statement.
It said the boys were killed in captivity in November 2023.
But the additional body was not that of their mother Shiri Bibas, nor any other hostage, the military said.
“This is a violation of utmost severity by the Hamas terrorist organisation, which is obligated under the agreement to return four deceased hostages,” the Israeli military said in a statement early on Friday.
“We demand that Hamas return Shiri home along with all our hostages.”
Hamas officials could not be immediately reached for comment.
The Israeli military said in a statement that the bodies of two boys released by Hamas, Ariel and Kfir, had been “brutally murdered by terrorists in captivity in November 2023”.
It said it based the assessment on intelligence and “forensic findings” made during their identification.
Speaking to CNN, United States envoy for hostages Adam Boehler called the Hamas decision to reportedly release the wrong body “horrific” and a “clear violation” of the ceasefire halting fighting in the Gaza Strip
“If I were them, I’d release everybody or they are going to face total annihilation,” he said.
