Hamas announces the death of three hostages who were members of an Argentinian-Israeli family

The youngest of the hostages in Hamas’ October 7 armed attack, which left at least 1,200 dead and 240 hostages, is believed to have died along with his mother and brother.

The Al Qasam Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamist group Hamas, today announced the deaths of three Israeli hostages from the Argentinian-Israeli Bibas family, a ten-month-old baby, his older brother and his mother, as a result of ‘previous bombings’ ‘. ” about Gaza in the Israeli army.

“Three detained Zionists died as a result of previous Zionist bombings (by Israel) on the Gaza Strip,” Al Qasam said in a statement, identifying the deceased as Shiri Silverman Bibas, mother of 10-month-old Kfir Bibas. his brother Ariel, four years old.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military said in a statement that it is “verifying the veracity of the information” and that its representatives “have spoken with the Bibas family.”

All three residents of Kibbutz Nir Oz, an Israeli community near Gaza, were captured and taken to Gaza along with the father of the family, Yardén Bibas, during the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, which resulted in at least 1,200 dead and more than 240 people taken as hostages to Gaza.

Exchange for Palestinian prisoners

After 81 hostages were released – 61 Israelis and 20 foreigners – as part of the exchange of captured children and women for Palestinian prisoners, parallel to the ceasefire in Gaza, controversy arose over the fact that the Bibas family’s children and mother Ze would not have been released, as Kfir was the smallest of all the abductees.

A few days ago, other relatives of the Bibas family reported that they feared for their health and asked for their release as part of the extension of the temporary ceasefire in force since Friday.

According to Israeli Army Arab spokesman Avichai Andraee, the family was initially kidnapped by Hamas but transferred to another Palestinian armed group, which is said to have kept it in power in the Khan Younis area.

“All the other children have already been released. We don’t know where they are being held” or “anything about their condition,” Ofri Bibas, the sister of the father, Yardén, and the children’s aunt, said at a press conference yesterday.

As part of the hostage agreement that remains in force on Wednesday, 10 Israeli prisoners are expected to be released this afternoon in exchange for 30 Palestinian prisoners, 15 women and 15 children.

The ceasefire, which has been extended for six days, in turn has a deadline of tonight, although negotiations are ongoing for an additional extension.

The Israeli military reported that it has informed the Bibas family about the Hamas publication, but has not yet been able to confirm the accuracy of the information.

“The terrorist organization Hamas continues to act in a cruel and inhumane manner,” a military spokesman said, recalling that all responsibility for the safety of the kidnapped people “rests entirely with Hamas.”

The army recalled that Hamas still holds nine children captive and demanded that the group “immediately return them to Israel.” (JO)