On Saturday, Hamas released five hostages from Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Israel confirmed that the body handed over earlier that day belonged to Shiri Bibas, one of the hostages kidnapped during the October 7, 2023, attack.
Hostages released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners
Hamas freed Eliya Cohen (27), Omer Shem Tov (22), and Omer Wenkert (23). They were taken from the Nova music festival during the October attack. The Red Cross transported them to Israeli authorities. Meanwhile, Tal Shoham (40) and Avera Mengistu (39) were released in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza.
Hisham Al Sayed (36) is set to be released in Gaza City. Al Sayed and Mengistu have been in Hamas’ custody since they voluntarily entered Gaza nearly a decade ago.
In return, Israel will release 602 Palestinian prisoners, including 445 Gazans captured during the war and dozens serving long or life sentences.
Misidentification of Shiri Bibas remains causes tension
The ceasefire nearly collapsed due to the misidentification of a body. Initially, many thought it was Shiri Bibas. She had been kidnapped along with her two children and her husband. Later on Friday, Hamas delivered a second body. Israel’s Institute of Forensic Medicine confirmed that it belonged to Bibas.
“Last night, our Shiri came home,” her family said.
The Bibas family’s suffering symbolises the impact of the October attack. The earlier misidentification and the staged handover of their remains angered many in Israel. Yarden Bibas, her husband, was freed on February 1.
Forensic analysis revealed that Shiri’s children, Kfir (10 months) and Ariel (4 years), were deliberately killed by their captors. The Israeli army believes Bibas likely died with them. Hamas claims the Bibas family died in an Israeli airstrike. However, a group called the Mujahideen Brigades, who initially held them, confirmed their captivity.
