The Palestinian armed groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad returned the bodies of four Israeli hostages to Israel on Thursday. Among them were a mother and son and an elderly individual. After receiving the bodies, Israel conducted forensic examinations, which revealed that three of the deceased were indeed Israeli citizens, but one of the female bodies was not.
Israel claimed that instead of the body of Siri Bibas, Hamas had sent the remains of an unidentified woman from Gaza. In response, Hamas stated that Siri Bibas and her two children were killed in an Israeli airstrike, and due to the intensity of the explosion, her body was severely damaged. They suggested that either they mistakenly sent the wrong body or that her remains had been mixed with others.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened severe military action in Gaza if the body of Siri Bibas is not returned. Other Israeli politicians have echoed similar warnings.
This has sparked fear among Gaza residents, who worry that Israel might launch another intense attack over the issue. Some displaced families in Gaza told Al Jazeera that the ceasefire was already fragile, but now it has reached a critical stage. Although Hamas is set to release six live hostages on Saturday, uncertainty looms over what will happen next.