The recent return of the bodies of Shiri Bibas and her two sons has reignited fears for a fragile cease-fire in Gaza, as both sides prepare for another exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners. The Israeli military announced that the body of Ms. Bibas appeared to be that of someone else, while an autopsy revealed that terrorists killed the boys with their bare hands.
Hamas denied the accusation, claiming that the family was killed in an Israeli airstrike in November 2023. However, a senior Hamas official acknowledged that Ms. Bibas’s body may have been kept in Gaza by mistake.
The news sparked a wave of fury and agony in Israel, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling for vengeance against Hamas. The return of the Bibas family underlined the need to restart the war to defeat Hamas once and for all, according to some Israelis.
However, others called for calm, arguing that the truce needed to be extended to bring home roughly 70 hostages still held in Gaza. Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog, also urged the government to prioritize the safe return of all kidnapped Israelis.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the Bibas family’s fate, analysts expect the truce to continue through the weekend. The six living Israeli hostages set to be released on Saturday are expected to maintain a sense of calm, with Hamas announcing their names in a bid to project business as usual.
The long-term future of the truce remains uncertain, with talks between Israel and Hamas stalled since January. Arab leaders meet in Saudi Arabia to discuss Gaza’s post-war reconstruction, but it is unclear whether a deal will be reached.
As tensions remain high, analysts warn that the road to renewing the war in Gaza may soon begin if the current government prevails. The fate of the Bibas family serves as a reminder of the need for a peaceful resolution and the importance of prioritizing the safe return of all hostages.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/21/world/middleeast/israel-gaza-hamas-bibas-hostages.html