The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Wednesday that it is investigating a Hamas claim that the youngest Israeli hostage, Kfir Bibas, a 10-month-old baby, and his brother and mother are dead. .
Hamas’ armed wing said Wednesday, without providing evidence, that Kfir, his 4-year-old brother, Ariel, and his mother, Shiri, were killed in an Israeli airstrike.
The IDF responded with a statement saying it was “evaluating the accuracy of the information.”
The Israeli Army also stated that it spoke to relatives of the Bibas family and “is with them at this difficult time”.
See also: Analysis: Truce increases pressure on Israel for greater ceasefire
“Hamas is fully responsible for the safety of all hostages in the Gaza Strip. Hamas must be held accountable. Hamas’ actions continue to endanger the hostages, which include nine children. Hamas must immediately release the hostages,” the IDF said.
Minutes after the Hamas allegation emerged, a senior Israeli official who was in a meeting said, “I hope it’s not true” and “we have no indication that they were assassinated.”
In an interview with Israel’s Channel 12, Jimmy Miller, Shiri’s cousin, said the IDF informed the family about the Hamas allegation.
“Hamas kidnapped them alive, Hamas is responsible for their health, and Hamas needs to return them alive,” Miller said.
“We don’t care if they transferred them to another person or another entity, they are (solely) responsible for bringing them back to us alive and well.”
The Bibas family later confirmed that they had “learned of Hamas’ latest claims,” according to a statement from the Forum for Families of Hostages and Missing Persons.
“We are waiting for the information to be confirmed and, hopefully, refuted by military authorities. We thank the people of Israel for their warm support, but we kindly request privacy during this difficult time,” they said.
The IDF’s chief spokesman, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, said earlier this week that the IDF did not believe the boys and their mother were in the hands of Hamas.
There has been no Israeli shelling of Gaza since the ceasefire began on Friday morning.
Kfir, Ariel and Shiri Bibas, and probably their father, Yarden, were all kidnapped from Nir Oz, an Israeli kibbutz that was devastated when it was attacked by Hamas men on October 7.
Hamas murdered more than a quarter of the community by shooting at people’s homes. They also looted and destroyed everything they could.
See also: Two-thirds of Palestinians released by Israel were never charged
In an interview with CNN on Tuesday (29), Eylon Keshet pleaded for the release of his cousin, Yarden, and the rest of the Bibas family.
“They shouldn’t be kept like this. It’s inhumane. It’s so scary,” said a visibly upset Keshet.
Holding signs of Kfir and Ariel, he asked: “Are these the enemies of Hamas? Are these anyone’s enemies? Should these children be used as bargaining chips? There is no justification for using them in this way. We just want them back, really.”
Hamas’ statement came as negotiators work toward another potential extension of the truce between Israel and Hamas, now in its sixth day.
A spokesperson for the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs told CNN that Qatar – which played a crucial role in brokering the truce agreement – is “very optimistic” that an extension will be announced.
Source: CNN Brasil
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