Hamas Agrees to Return Bibas Family Remains, But Israel Delays Transfer

Gaza (Quds News Network)- Hamas has agreed to hand over the remains of the Israeli Bibas family in response to an Israeli request through mediators, reported Al Jazeera. However, the transfer is stalled because Israel has not provided the heavy equipment needed to retrieve the bodies.

Yarden Bibas arrived at Gaza on October 7, 2023, along with his wife and two children as Israel’s military was applying the Hannibal directive. Hamas’ armed wing, Al-Qassam Brigades, released him last Saturday as part of the fourth prisoner exchange under the Gaza ceasefire deal.

Israel has killed Yarden’s wife and children in an airstrike on Gaza in November 2023. Hamas says the bodies remain trapped under rubble due to the destruction caused by Israeli bombardment.

The Bibas family has become a symbol in Israeli protests demanding a ceasefire and a new prisoner swap deal. On November 30, Al-Qassam Brigades released a video of Bibas urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to recover their bodies for burial in Israel.

Last month, Israeli channel 12 revealed that Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a Hamas offer to release Israeli prisoners and return the bodies of Israeli settlers over a year ago. The proposal, made 13 months ago, included the return of Yarden Bibas, along with the bodies of his wife and children.

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