The body handed over by Hamas on Friday has now been confirmed as that of Shiri Bibas, after initial reports suggested it was not her. The identification was made by Israel’s Institute of Forensic Medicine, and her family later confirmed the news in a statement, saying, “Last night, our Shiri was returned home.”
Hamas had announced the return of four deceased Israeli hostages on Thursday: Shiri Bibas, her two children — Ariel and Kfir Bibas — and Oded Lifshitz. While Israeli officials initially identified the Bibas children and Lifshitz correctly, they had stated that the fourth body was not that of Shiri Bibas. However, following further forensic analysis, the body was confirmed as hers.
This development is part of ongoing efforts to identify and recover the remains of hostages and victims from the ongoing conflict during the ceasefire period, a ceasefire many hope would progress into all the stakeholders finally reaching and agreeing on a workable solution and full blown peace in the region.
