In a devastating turn of events, the body of Shiri Bibas, a hostage held by Hamas, was not among those returned to Israel on Thursday, despite initial claims from the terrorist group. Hamas now alleges that her remains were commingled with others due to an Israeli airstrike on the location where she was held.

The remains of Shiri's two young sons, Ariel and Kfir Bibas, along with Oded Lifshitz, were confirmed to be among those returned, bringing a measure of closure more than 500 days after their capture. However, the absence of Shiri's body has deepened the tragedy for the family.

Initially, Hamas indicated that the remains of Shiri and her children would be part of the exchange. However, Israeli authorities have confirmed that the body presented as Shiri's was not a match. The IDF has stated that the body remains unidentified and does not correspond to any other known hostage.

The Israel National Institute of Forensic Medicine has positively identified the remains of the two young boys. Authorities have declared that they were tragically killed by Hamas while in captivity in November 2023.

The Red Cross, which facilitated the transfer, expressed its dissatisfaction with the handling of the release, citing concerns about the lack of privacy and dignity afforded to the deceased. The organization emphasized its role is limited to the transfer itself and does not involve the examination or identification of the bodies.

This latest development adds another layer of grief and uncertainty to an already horrific situation. The search for Shiri Bibas continues, leaving her family and the international community grappling with the brutal actions of Hamas.