Hamas, through the Al Qasam Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamist group, announced this Wednesday that Israeli baby Kfir Bibas, just ten months old, has died, as have his brother, four years old, and his mother Shiri, 32 years old. .
The Palestinian group claims that the three Israeli hostages of the Argentine-Israeli Bibas family, who were kidnapped on October 7, were killed in Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip.
The information from Hamas comes after the family’s request for release and reporting of outrage over the fact that the 10-month-old baby, the youngest Israeli hostage, as well as his mother and brother, were not among the hostages since released . the armistice came into effect.
The Islamist movement calls the victims “Zionists,” who were identified as a 10-month-old baby, his older brother and his mother.
“Three detained Zionists died as a result of previous Zionist bombings [por parte de Israel] over the Gaza Strip,” the Al Qasam Brigades said in a statement, identifying the victims as Shiri Silverman Bibas, mother of Kfir Bibas – the 10-month-old baby – and his four-year-old brother Ariel.
All living in the Nir Oz ‘kibbutz’, near Gaza City, they were taken hostage and taken to Gaza along with the father of the family, Yarden Bibas, during the October 7 Hamas attack that left around 1,200 dead. Israeli authorities say there have been deaths and 240 people have been sent to the Gaza Strip.
A video of the Bibas family actually became one of the most important moments of that October 7, when Shiri tightly held her children, who did not cry or make any noise. The boys’ father was reportedly struck by a hammer and his whereabouts are unknown, while the children’s grandparents were murdered.
In recent days, and following the release of 81 hostages – 61 Israelis and 20 foreigners – as part of the exchange of children and women for Palestinian prisoners and in parallel to the ceasefire declared in Gaza, controversy has arisen over the fact that children and mother of the Bibas family were not released, and the fact that Kfir was the youngest among all those abducted.
A few days ago, other relatives of the Bibas family indicated that they feared for the health of the detainees and asked for their release, given the temporary ceasefire in force since Friday.
According to Avichai Andraee, Arabic-language spokesman for the Israeli army, the family was initially kidnapped by Hamas but transferred to another Palestinian armed group, which held them in the Khan Yunis area.
“All other children have already been released. We do not know where they are being held or what their health status is,” Ofri Bibas, sister of the father, Yarden, and aunt of the children, said at a news conference. Now Hamas has announced the deaths of the three hostages. Israeli authorities stated that so far there is “no confirmation” about the information released by the Palestinian group.
In a statement, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced that it will investigate Hamas’ “cruel and inhumane” allegations that these Israeli hostages died as a result of Israeli bombing.
The IDF stressed that Hamas is “fully responsible for the safety of all hostages in the Gaza Strip”.
“Hamas is endangering the hostages, including nine children. Hamas is obliged to return them to Israel immediately,” the army statement said.
According to the Times of Israel, Benny Gantz, a member of the war cabinet, was meeting with members of the Bibas family when Hamas announced the deaths of the Israeli hostages. He stated that “there is no confirmation” and assured that they “will continue to look for information and other signs” to determine the veracity of what the Palestinian group has released.
A cousin of the three hostages, quoted in the same publication, said the family is “awaiting an official announcement” from the Israeli military on whether Hamas’ claim “is true or not.”
Speaking to CNN on Wednesday morning, cousin Eylon Keshet said: “We are very worried about him,” referring to the 10-month-old baby. ‘We are not sure if he will be able to survive. Every day he is there is a very, very real danger to his life,” he added.
With Lusa
Source: DN
