Hamas' Cynical Violation of the Ceasefire Agreement

The past day has been gut-wrenching. Yesterday, after the cynical “handover ceremony” Hamas held before releasing the “alleged” four deceased hostages, the four coffins were taken from Gaza into Israel to the National Institute of Forensic Medicine for an identification process.

Even before the coffins were brought to Israel, Hamas falsely claimed that Ariel Bibas (4) and Kfir Bibas (10 months old) were killed in an Israeli air strike. Contrary to Hamas’ lies, forensic examination together with intelligence information, proved that these innocent children were murdered by terrorists in cold blood, in November of 2023. The terrorists did not shoot them, they murdered them with their bare hands, after which they committed horrific acts to cover up their atrocities. 

The IDF has shared the forensic findings, along with the intelligence that support these findings, with our partners around the world, so they too can verify and tell the world how the Hamas terror organization operates. 

This is the face of real terror - holding the bodies of two children, one of them not even one years old, for over a year after they were murdered, and using them as bargaining chips. 

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On October 7th, Hamas abducted Ariel and Kfir together with their beloved mother, Shiri Bibas; we all remember the video showing her clutching her young children, in fear and desperation. 

Shiri Bibas was supposed to return with her children yesterday, as part of the hostage release agreement, but Hamas lied and violated the agreement.

Instead of returning Shiri, as expected by the terms of the agreement, after a forensic examination, it was confirmed that Hamas returned a coffin with an unidentified Gazan woman - not Shiri Bibas.

This is once again a testament to Hamas’ cruelty and barbaric nature. While families and communities across Israel were anxiously waiting for the return of their loved ones, Hamas sent back a coffin containing the remains of a different woman. 

As a husband and father, my thoughts are with Yarden Bibas and his entire family today during this unimaginably difficult time.

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Among the returned deceased hostages was Oded Lifshitz (83), who too was murdered in captivity in November 2023. Oded, a husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather was known amongst his fellow kibbutz members as a pillar of their community. Oded was a journalist and a peace activist, who dedicated his life to helping others. 

My thoughts are with Oded’s wife, Yocheved Lifshitz, who too was abducted into Gaza on October 7th, but was released from captivity in November of 2023.

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Ariel, Kfir, and Oded were taken ALIVE from Kibbutz Nir Oz, yesterday Hamas returned them in coffins. These actions are crimes against humanity. 

Hamas’ failure to provide Israel with the body of Shiri Bibas is a grave violation of the agreement and will not be tolerated; we demand that Hamas return Shiri Bibas, in accordance with the agreement.

70 hostages remain in Hamas’ brutal and inhumane captivity. It is our mission to bring back Shiri and all the hostages home, the deceased for burial in Israel, and those alive back to their beloved families. We will not rest until this mission is fulfilled.

Until they are all home, 

LTC Nadav Shoshani