Kfir Bibas was taken hostage on October 7 along with his brother, mother and father. Photo: Hostages and Missing Families Forum/Handout/REUTERS
A 10-month-old baby being held hostage in Gaza was killed as Israel's prime minister vowed to return to all-out war, Hamas said.
Kfir Bibas, the youngest man taken hostage, died in captivity along with his four-year-old brother Ariel and their mother Shira, Hamas said in a statement.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it was investigating the claims and was in contact with the surviving family.
In a video message, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there were questions about whether Israel would actually return to war after how “this phase of returning our abductees is over.”
On Wednesday, Joe Biden called on Israel to show restraint. “Continuing on the path of terror, violence, murder and war means giving Hamas what it seeks,” the US president warned. “We can't do this.”
But Mr Netanyahu vowed to continue fighting at the earliest opportunity as the IDF said it had finalized plans for the next phase of fighting in the southern Gaza Strip.
He said: “We cannot help but go back.” to fight to the end. This is my policy, the entire cabinet of ministers stands behind it, the soldiers stand behind it, the people stand behind it.”
It was The Israel Defense Forces said 10 Israeli hostages and four Thai nationals were released by Hamas on Wednesday evening as part of the sixth tranche of the temporary ceasefire agreement.
Two dual Israeli-Russian nationals were released earlier on Wednesday.
There were hopes that the current truce could be extended beyond its expiration on Thursday morning, with Qatari mediators reportedly expressing “confidence” in further exchanges.
As the IDF investigates reports of Bibas' killings, Benny Gantz, the war cabinet minister, warned that the news could be seen as “psychological warfare on the part of Hamas.”
Kfir, his brother and mother were kidnapped in a kibbutz. Nira Oza on Oct. 7 with her father, Yarden, 34.
An IDF spokesman said Tuesday the family was no longer under Hamas control and had been handed over to another terrorist group that was holding them in Khan Yunis.
Hamas said the children and their mother were killed in an Israeli airstrike, without providing evidence.
The Bibas family asked for privacy in a statement and said they were “waiting for [the murder claims] to be reviewed.” confirmed and, I hope, denied by the military.”
Jimmy Miller, Shira Bibas' cousin, said: “Hamas kidnapped them alive. Hamas bears full responsibility for their well-being. Hamas must return them to us alive.”
“We are not interested in whether they handed them over to someone else or some other group.”
Israel believes that Hamas has everything There are still enough women and child hostages to allow the current pause in fighting in the Gaza Strip to be extended for another two to three days, an official involved in the negotiations said on Wednesday. Israel said it would extend the truce by one day for every 10 hostages released.
“We know for sure that there are additional hostages in the hands of Hamas for at least two more days, possibly three days from the list of women and children,” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.< /p>
The official added that “follow-up agreements” regarding the men held by Hamas will only be concluded after the release of all women and children.
Families asking for the return of male hostages
It comes after the families of Israeli male hostages made an emotional plea for their release during a visit to London.
Orit Meir's son, 21-year-old Almog, was kidnapped at the SuperNova music festival where hundreds were killed people.
The 61-year-old woman said she only knew he was alive from a video released by Hamas. shortly after his capture.
“I just want him back,” she told The Telegraph with tears in her eyes.
“It doesn’t matter if your child is 10 years old, 21 or 40. It is still your child, and you miss him like a baby.”
“I am happy for the reunited families. But I want the baby back, 54 days is too long.”
Eli David, brother of the 26-year-old Evyatara, said he was aware of the difficulties in freeing the male hostages.
Evyatar was also kidnapped at a music festival and also appeared terrified in the video.
“He's a young man, which probably means Hamas has written him down as a soldier, which he's not,” Islay said.
“And it's such a shame that he's last in the food chain.” chain even though he didn't do anything to harm anyone. The only crime he committed was celebrating at a festival with many others who were simply living their lives.”
Division on the duration of the truce
Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, who was due to travel to Israel on Thursday, said the administration wants the truce to continue because it “means more hostages coming home, more help coming home.” enter.”
However, Itamar Ben-Gvir, the far-right security minister and a key partner in Netanyahu's coalition, threatened to overthrow the government if the war in Gaza ended.
“To stop the war means to collapse the government.” ” he said in a statement. Ben-Gvir's departure would leave Netanyahu with only a slim majority to retain power.
This comes after Antonio Guterres, the UN secretary-general, said reports sexual abuse during Hamas unrest must be investigated as it warns of “epic humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza.
Mr Guterres said there were many. reports of sexual violence during the “heinous terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas on October 7” in which thousands were wounded, more than 1,200 killed and about 240 abducted.
Speaking of the remaining hostages held in the sector Gaza, Mr. Guterres said they all “must be released immediately and unconditionally.”
“Until then,” he added, “they must be treated humanely and the (humanitarian organization) ICRC must be allowed visit them.”
Tensions escalated in the West Bank on Wednesday as the IDF said it had opened fire on armed terrorists in the Jenin refugee camp, killing two men.
The Israeli military also said it had killed a Palestinian Islamic Jihad commander in the West Bank as violence in the occupied territory continues to rise amid the war in the Gaza Strip.
Muhammad Zubeidi was “liquidated” by IDF fighters in the Jenin refugee camp, the IDF said. He has been accused of several gun attacks in the area.
Meanwhile, an 85-year-old hostage released by Hamas in October said she told Yahya Sinwar, the head of Hamas, that he should be “ashamed of himself.” ” ” when they met.
Yocheved Lifshitz, a lifelong peace activist, said Sinvar visited her three or four days after she was captured.
She said Hebrew newspaper “Davar”: “I asked him how he was not ashamed to do this to people who had maintained peace all these years.
“ He did not answer. He was silent.”
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