Hamas says 10-month-old hostage Kfir Bibas was killed in Israeli bombing

[CharlieH]

 

A 10-month-old baby who was the youngest hostage kidnapped and taken to Gaza has reportedly been killed in an Israeli bombing alongside his mother and brother, Hamas has claimed.

Kfir Bibas was taken from the Nir Oz kibbutz along with his four-year-old brother, Ariel, and their mother, Shiri. His father, Yarden, was also abducted during the 7 October Hamas attacks on Israel, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 240 taken hostage.

 

Footage of the family’s abduction showed a terrified Shiri clutching her two sons as they were bundled away. Yarden appeared in a separate video with an apparent head injury.

 

Earlier on Wednesday relatives said their loved ones were not among the hostages due to be released as negotiations to extend the truce continued.

Shortly before Wednesday’s planned release of women and children, the military wing of Hamas said Kfir had been killed in an earlier Israeli bombing in the Gaza Strip, along with his brother and their mother. Yarden was not mentioned.

In a statement released through the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, the relatives said: “Our family has learned of Hamas’s latest claims. We are waiting for the information to be confirmed and hopefully refuted by military officials. We thank the people of Israel for their warm support but kindly request privacy during this difficult time.”

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it was trying to verifying the claims. It said in a statement: “IDF representatives spoke with the Bibas family following the recent reports and are with them at this difficult time. The IDF is assessing the accuracy of the information.

 

“Hamas is wholly responsible for the security of all hostages in the Gaza Strip. Hamas must be held accountable. Hamas’s actions continue to endanger the hostages, which include nine children. Hamas must immediately release our hostages.”

 

FULL STORY

 

[Morch]

5 hours ago, CharlieH said:

 

A 10-month-old baby who was the youngest hostage kidnapped and taken to Gaza has reportedly been killed in an Israeli bombing alongside his mother and brother, Hamas has claimed.

Kfir Bibas was taken from the Nir Oz kibbutz along with his four-year-old brother, Ariel, and their mother, Shiri. His father, Yarden, was also abducted during the 7 October Hamas attacks on Israel, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 240 taken hostage.

 

Footage of the family’s abduction showed a terrified Shiri clutching her two sons as they were bundled away. Yarden appeared in a separate video with an apparent head injury.

 

Earlier on Wednesday relatives said their loved ones were not among the hostages due to be released as negotiations to extend the truce continued.

Shortly before Wednesday’s planned release of women and children, the military wing of Hamas said Kfir had been killed in an earlier Israeli bombing in the Gaza Strip, along with his brother and their mother. Yarden was not mentioned.

In a statement released through the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, the relatives said: “Our family has learned of Hamas’s latest claims. We are waiting for the information to be confirmed and hopefully refuted by military officials. We thank the people of Israel for their warm support but kindly request privacy during this difficult time.”

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it was trying to verifying the claims. It said in a statement: “IDF representatives spoke with the Bibas family following the recent reports and are with them at this difficult time. The IDF is assessing the accuracy of the information.

 

“Hamas is wholly responsible for the security of all hostages in the Gaza Strip. Hamas must be held accountable. Hamas’s actions continue to endanger the hostages, which include nine children. Hamas must immediately release our hostages.”

 

FULL STORY

 

 

This report exemplifies how complicated it is to deal, or negotiate with the Hamas. Even given the chaos in the Gaza Strip, the various statements which were offered create a sense of either the organization not being in full control, or some kind of game is being played.

 

Usually, Hamas holds on to bodies of Israels, seeking to trade them for prisoners anyway. Hard to imagine them letting go of the option in this case. As for transferring hostages to the PIJ....I get it that they made the comment, just can't recall a previous instance in which this happened or figure out what the motivation would be, especially in this case. Sounds  dodgy.

 

Then the supposed death by Israeli bombing - sure enough that Hamas will claim that, but it's not like all those abducted on 7/10 made it even to the 8/10 once in the Gaza Strip. So no way to know for sure. A whole lot could have gone wrong by Hamas handling of the hostages, regardless of Israel's attacks.

 

And then there's the last bit (and probably negotiators' worry) - say there's a ceasefire negotiated, or otherwise, Hamas leadership cornered and need a way out - and the supposedly dead baby is 'found' again. How to handle that? Trust is not very high as such things go.

Edited November 30, 2023 by Morch