Hamas Responds to Israeli Allegations Over Bibas Family Handover
"If there was an error, it is due to the lack of resources, the death of the capturing group, and the mixing of remains," Taher Al-Nunu said.
Gaza (Quds News Network)- Taher Al-Nunu, media adviser to Hamas’ political bureau chief, stated that it is possible that an error occurred in receiving a body that may not belong to Shiri Bibas. He stated, “The error may have occurred regarding the receipt of a body that might not be Shiri Bibas. We are investigating how this happened, but Netanyahu bears full responsibility.”
Al-Nunu reiterated that Hamas initially sought to release civilian Israeli settlers without conditions shortly following October 7. He emphasized, “We wanted to release the civilians immediately and without any conditions in the first days of the war. We clearly said that we wanted the ceasefire to stop so we could hand over all the civilians.”
According to Al-Nunu, Hamas continued talks to release Israeli prisoners until the first ceasefire in November 2023. “All the civilian prisoners were alive at that time, but Netanyahu and his army refused this offer. We kept talking about this matter until we reached the first ceasefire in November 2023, when we offered to release the Bibas family, who had been killed shortly before.”
He revealed that Hamas intended to deliver the bodies of the mother and two children as part of the deal. He explained, “We wanted to hand over the mother and the bodies of the two sons as part of the agreement, but those who now cry over this issue— the occupation— are responsible. The Israeli army bombed the residential area where this family was”, he stated.
Al-Nunu stated that Israel is deliberately obstructing medical and rescue efforts, making it difficult to recover and identify bodies. “The occupation army bombed a residential area while knowing that there were possibly civilians or prisoners in that location. This is the same situation Palestinian families face, where tens of thousands of Palestinian children have been killed, their remains mixed together”, he stated.
He also pointed out to Israel’s destruction of medical infrastructure, making it impossible to retrieve bodies. “The occupation destroyed our hospitals and even the equipment used to lift rubble and retrieve bodies, which may affect the third phase of the agreement,” he said.
Al-Nunu called for immediate international intervention. “We need the necessary machinery to recover the bodies of Palestinian martyrs and hostages who were killed. We also need DNA testing equipment to identify the bodies— equipment the occupation destroyed,” he stated.
He added that Israel was stalling. “We have been asking for these materials constantly, but the occupation has been stalling. Now they engage in this victim narrative, while we remain serious about implementing the agreement,” he asserted. “We will conduct an investigation to uncover the circumstances surrounding this incident.”
Al-Nunu also announced that Hamas had released the names of six Israeli prisoners scheduled for release on Saturday. He reaffirmed Hamas’ readiness for the next negotiation phase, stressing the need for international pressure on the occupation state. “We have just announced the names of six prisoners who will be released tomorrow. For us, the process continues. If there was an error, it is due to the lack of resources, the death of the capturing group, and the mixing of remains,” he explained.
He warned that Netanyahu has no real intention of recovering Israeli prisoners. “Today, if Netanyahu knew the location of live prisoners, he would order his army to bomb them and kill them because he does not want them back alive. This has been clear from the beginning and remains so to this moment,” he stated. “This victim narrative is merely an attempt to evade continuing the agreement.”
Al-Nunu urged the United Nations and the Security Council to guarantee the ceasefire implementation and ensure Israel abides by the agreement. He stated, “The occupation systematically delays matters, whether in humanitarian protocol, introducing necessary materials, handling prisoners, or allowing displaced people to return from the south. They stall in all these matters to end the agreement and blame us.”
“We are proceeding with full transparency, and mediators must hold the occupation accountable. We also call for this agreement to receive international protection through the United Nations and a Security Council resolution to prevent Netanyahu from evading it.”
“What Netanyahu wants today is the collapse of the agreement and non-compliance. Therefore, there must be a clear international effort to ensure its continuation, as the occupation is trying by all means to undermine it and blame us to justify its escape from its obligations”, he concluded.
