Hamas releases new hostage body after misidentification of Shiri Bibas

Israelis sit together in Tel Aviv on Thursday as the bodies of deceased hostages were handed over by Hamas under the terms of a ceasefire. | REUTERS

by JAMES MACKENZIE AND JANA CHOUKEIR
February 22, 202

JERUSALEM/CAIRO – Hamas released a body on Friday it claimed to be that of Israeli hostage Shiri Bibas, whose misidentification in a handover this week threatened to derail the fragile Gaza ceasefire deal.

Israeli medical authorities said forensic teams were preparing to examine the body, which Hamas transferred via the Red Cross, and confirm its identity.

The Palestinian militant group had agreed to hand over the bodies of Shiri Bibas and her two young sons Kfir and Ariel along with the remains of a fourth hostage on Thursday under the ceasefire that has halted fighting in Gaza since last month.