Where is Shiri Bibas's body? Hamas switches slain mother's remains with that of an anonymous woman

Israel has claimed that the body of Shiri Bibas, a mother of two sons who were kidnapped from their home in kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, was not among the remains of the hostages released on Thursday. The Israeli military claimed Hamas switched Shiri's body with that of an anonymous woman. 

However, the other remains released belonged to Ariel and Kfir Bibas. "The third body was not that of Shiri Bibas, and no match was found for any other abductee. It is an anonymous body without identification," the IDF stated. 

The coffin said to be carrying Shiri's body was handed over at a ceremony on Thursday morning. One of the coffins was marked as belonging to Shiri, featuring her photograph and name in Hebrew and Arabic, and her "date of arrest": October 7, 2023. 

However, Israeli forensic experts conducted numerous examinations on the body, comparing it to her DNA and that of other female hostages, but there were no matches. The military sources said the body was received in "a condition in which it could be clearly verified it does not belong to Shiri Bibas." The coffin was reportedly locked and the keys Hamas sent did not match with the coffin. The woman was dressed in an item of clothing that did not match hers. 

The incident triggered anger in Israel with its ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon posting on X, "Instead of returning Shiri, the mother of Kfir and Ariel, Hamas returned an unidentified body, as if it were a worthless shipment. This is a new low, an evil and cruelty with no parallel." 

Meanwhile, Israel has claimed that available intelligence and forensic evidence proved that the two children were brutally murdered in captivity in November 2023.

It has also condemned Hamas for holding a "propaganda-filled ceremony" wherein the militant group set up a stage covered with propaganda posters in defiance of pleas for a more respectful affair.