**Israel and Hamas Trade Blame Over Missing Mother**
The family of Shiri Bibas, a woman who was taken hostage by Hamas during the October 7 attacks in Gaza, is demanding her safe return. Her sister-in-law, Ofri Bibas-Levy, said that they were “not seeking revenge at this time” but wanted Shiri back home.
Shiri and her two young sons, Ariel and Kfir, were among over 1,200 people killed or taken hostage in Gaza during the conflict between Israel and Hamas. The family has been waiting for news of their loved ones, but it’s been a long and difficult wait.
**Mixed Messages**
On Thursday, Israel announced that Hamas had released a body believed to be Shiri’s, but forensic tests revealed that it was not her. Hamas claimed that Shiri and her two sons were killed by an Israeli airstrike, while Israel said they were “brutally murdered by terrorists” in November 2023.
The conflicting accounts have caused further grief for the Bibas family. Ofri Bibas-Levy said that they would not be able to mourn their loved ones until Shiri was returned safely. She appealed for her release, saying “We still wait for Shiri, and we fear for her fate.”
**Ceasefire Agreement**
The situation has raised questions about the effectiveness of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. The IDF said that three other bodies were released to Israel on Friday, which were later identified as those of Ariel, Kfir, and peace activist Oded Lifschitz.
Ofri Bibas-Levy demanded that Israel do more to ensure the safe return of her family members. She said it was “Israel’s obligation and responsibility” to bring back their loved ones alive after they had been taken hostage by Hamas during the October 7 attacks.
**No Forgiveness**
In a statement on Friday morning, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed sorrow over the deaths of Ariel, Kfir, and Oded Lifschitz. However, Ofri Bibas-Levy warned that there would be no forgiveness if Israel failed to bring back their loved ones safely.
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