Hamas hands over body of Shiri Bibas to Red Cross after body mix-up crisis: Reports

CAIRO – 21 February 2025: Hamas' military wing, the Al Qassam Brigades, reportedly handed over the body of Israeli captive Shiri Bibas to the Red Cross on Friday, following a body mix-up crisis that endangered the ceasefire in Gaza.

Tragedy erupted in Israel as authorities claimed that Hamas provided the wrong body of a Palestinian woman from Gaza instead of Shiri Bibas yesterday, as part of the captive-prisoner agreement under the ceasefire.

Hamas earlier stated that the body of Shiri Bibas, handed over along with her two children, had been mixed up with other bodies of individuals killed by Israel.

The movement indicated it is conducting an investigation into the mix-up, attributing the incident to a lack of DNA testing capabilities—destroyed by Israel during the war—and the intense Israeli bombardment of residential areas.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the incident as a “cruel and malicious violation” of the ceasefire agreement and vowed to seek revenge.

As part of the ceasefire, Hamas is set to release six living captives on Saturday, double the number initially agreed upon in the swap.

This group of captives represents the last set to be freed under the first phase of the ceasefire, which expires in early March.

The list of names of captives to be released tomorrow, as announced by Hamas, includes Hisham Al-Sayed and Avera Mengistu, who were captured in 2014 and 2015 after crossing into Gaza. Other captives to be released are Eliya Cohen, Tal Shoham, Omer Shem Tov, and Omer Wenkert.

Hamas still holds dozens of captives in Gaza, set to be released during the next phase of the deal, which has yet to be agreed upon.

In exchange, Israel is expected to release more than 600 Palestinian prisoners and detainees on Saturday, including hundreds detained during the war and dozens serving life sentences.