"Israel Confirms DNA Misidentification in Hamas Return"

Israeli Authorities Confirm Misidentification of Body Returned by Hamas
February 21, 2025

In a critical update from Tel Aviv, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that one of the four bodies returned by Hamas last Thursday was not that of an Israeli national. The body, initially identified as belonging to Shiri Bibas, a 32-year-old Israeli woman, was found to be a misidentification after DNA testing revealed it did not match her genetic profile.

The remains of Shiri Bibas, along with her two children Ariel (4) and Kfir (9 months), had been returned to Israel following months of captivity under Hamas. According to reports, while the DNA of the two children corresponded with their identities, the body believed to be Shiri Bibas did not match either her or any other captives. This revelation came after the IDF’s confirmation that the remains of Oded Lifshitz, an 83-year-old peace activist taken hostage along with his wife Yocheved, had also been returned.

Hamas initially claimed the bodies belonged to Shiri Bibas and her children, who were taken during the horrific October 7, 2023 attacks, but subsequent DNA tests have cast doubt on these claims. Hamas has not responded to the Israeli accusation, which suggests a significant breach of agreements regarding the return of deceased captives. The IDF has demanded that Hamas return Shiri Bibas' body as well as other Israeli captives still held in Gaza.

Oded Lifshitz, along with his wife Yocheved, was taken from their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz during the October attacks. His wife was released in late October 2023 as part of a separate agreement. Meanwhile, Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir were among the many Israeli civilians abducted in the same brutal assault. The tragic discovery of their deaths, with Shiri and her children having reportedly been killed by Hamas in a bombing attack, has sparked international outcry.

Israel’s military intelligence agency, Shin Bet, has verified that the Bibas children were murdered while in captivity, contradicting Hamas’ assertion that they died in an Israeli airstrike.

As part of a broader ceasefire agreement initiated in January 2025, a total of eight bodies, including those of Israeli civilians and prisoners, were scheduled for return. However, the ongoing process of body identification remains controversial and complex, as not all remains have been accurately identified, with disputes over the true identities of the deceased continuing.

In exchange for the bodies, Israel and Hamas have also agreed to release numerous captives. So far, Hamas has freed 28 Israeli hostages, while Israel has allowed the return of over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails. Despite these releases, a total of 66 Israeli captives remain in Gaza, with many believed to still be alive.

This return of remains comes amid mounting tension over the unresolved situation in Gaza, where the conflict continues to take its toll. Over 48,000 Palestinians have died in the ongoing conflict, according to reports from Gaza’s Health Ministry, many of whom were civilians. Meanwhile, Israel has suffered the loss of over 1,200 citizens in the October attacks, with 251 individuals still believed to be in Hamas custody.

The situation remains dire as both parties await further developments in the ongoing negotiations, which are expected to proceed with the ultimate goal of bringing the remaining captives home.