Israel mulling setting 24-hour deadline for Hamas to return Shiri Bibas' body, claims Israeli media

By Abderaouf Arnaout, Beraa Gokturk, and Ikram Kouachi

JERUSALEM (AA) - Despite Hamas' pledge to investigate Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's claims about not receiving Shiri Bibas' body, a prominent Israeli newspaper reported on Friday that Tel Aviv is considering setting a 24-hour deadline for her body's return.

Israel's security establishment is considering recommending to its political leadership that the remains of Bibas be returned within the next 24 hours, the Yedioth Ahronoth claimed in its report, without mentioning any sources within Netanyahu's government.

Moreover, the Israeli government has not yet issued an official comment on the matter.

The Palestinian resistance group Hamas handed over the bodies of Shiri Bibas and her two children, Ariel and Kfir, and Oded Lifshitz in the southern city of Khan Younis on Thursday under a Gaza ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement.

However, Netanyahu claimed early Friday that Hamas had returned the body of a woman from Gaza, not Shiri Bibas, and vowed to retaliate for what he called a “violation” of the agreement.

In response, Hamas stated that it would thoroughly investigate the allegations and announce the results clearly.

A statement from the group suggested that there may have been a mix-up or mistake with the bodies, potentially caused by Israeli airstrikes targeting the area where Bibas' family had been located alongside other Palestinians.

Despite these developments, Yedioth Ahronoth reported that Israeli officials believe the incident will not jeopardize the broader prisoner exchange deal with Palestinian factions in Gaza.

Meanwhile, families of Israeli captives in Gaza have urged Netanyahu's government to find a "wise and responsible" way to return Shiri Bibas' body without damaging the ongoing exchange for the release of living hostages.

The issue surrounding Shiri Bibas' body should not affect the planned release of six living Israeli prisoners on Saturday, Israeli broadcaster KAN reported, citing a senior Israeli official who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The ceasefire deal took effect last month, halting Israel’s genocidal war, which has killed at least 48,300 people, mostly women and children, and left the enclave in ruins.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.