Hamas handed another body believed to be hostage Shiri Babas to the Red Cross on Friday after giving them the wrong person’s body.
The initial mistake stirred more bad blood between Hamas and Israel during a time in which the two sides are going through a tense ceasefire. It’s unknown if this body is actually Babas.
Hamas took Babas and her two children hostage during their initial Oct. 7, 2023, attack.
“Tonight, at the request of the parties, an ICRC team received human remains, which were then transferred to Israeli authorities,” the International Committee of the Red Cross said on Friday, adding, “The ICRC cannot confirm any additional details.”
Hamas officials told the Washington Post that they believed the first body to be Babas when they turned it over along with the remains of her two children for Palestinian prisoners. The Israel Defense Forces believed that Hamas killed Babas’ two young boys “with their bare hands.”
The children’s father was kidnapped as well but was freed earlier this month.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu showed his fury Friday toward the mistake.
“The cruelty of the Hamas monsters knows no bounds. 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,” the Israeli leader said.
“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 continued.
Israeli officials determined the first body wasn’t Babas after DNA testing showed it was an “anonymous, unidentified body” and didn’t match any of the hostages. The woman turned out to be Gazan, and Hamas claimed they made the mistake because of Israeli bombing.
“We point out the possibility of 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,” Hamas said.
WHAT IS DOGE? WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY
The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas remains tenuous and potentially fleeting. The first phase will expire in less than two weeks.
Neither side has agreed to extend it into the next phase.
