Hamas also presented the remains of 84-year-old Oded Lifshitz on Thursday during a grim ceremony that featured four black caskets displayed on a stage adorned with slogans accusing Israel of using “USA bombs” to kill Shiri Bibas and her sons. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres condemned these actions in a late Thursday post, emphasizing the importance of respecting the dignity of the deceased and their families in accordance with international law. Prime Minister Netanyahu declared on Friday his commitment to bringing Shiri and the other captives back home, vowing to hold Hamas accountable for violating the agreement.
This event highlighted the delicate nature of the recent ceasefire agreement brokered with the assistance of Qatari and Egyptian mediators and endorsed by the United States. Despite this, six individuals currently held captive by Hamas, including Eliya Cohen, Omer Shem Tov, Omer Wenkert, Tal Shoham, Hisham Al-Sayed, and Avera Mengistu, are expected to be released on Saturday. Mengistu and Al-Sayed have been in Hamas custody for over a decade, entering Gaza years ago.
The impending release of these hostages marks the conclusion of the initial phase of the ceasefire arrangement, while the future of the truce remains uncertain as the second phase of the agreement awaits finalization. Criticizing Hamas for failing to return Shira Bibas’ body as promised, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for decisive action against the group. His remarks came following a series of bus explosions in central Israel on Thursday, suspected to be a militant attack.
Israeli Police spokesperson Haim Sargrof indicated that the explosives used in the attack resembled those employed in the West Bank but refrained from providing further details. The incident occurred amid Israel’s extensive military operation in the northern West Bank under the banner of “Iron Wall,” aimed at dismantling militant groups and preventing future assaults on the nation. The International Rescue Committee expressed concerns about the impact of these military operations, highlighting the displacement of civilians, destruction of vital infrastructure, and limitations on movement, particularly affecting children.
Additionally, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) recently warned of an alarming increase in forced displacements of Palestinian communities in the northern West Bank, underscoring the escalating humanitarian crisis in the region.
