Israel killed the Bibas children, but is using the tragedy to derail Gaza ceasefire, say observers

The deaths of the Bibas children, killed by Israeli bombing in Gaza over a year ago, are being exploited in an attempt to derail the current ceasefire agreement, say observers. Hamas is scheduled to return their bodies on Thursday, but as Israel and its allies push a false narrative about their deaths, observers warn that this tragedy is being weaponised to justify the resumption of Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

The US House Foreign Affairs Committee Majority sparked controversy by claiming without evidence that, “Hamas executed a mother and her two children in cold blood,” contradicting established accounts that Shiri Bibas, 32, and her sons Kfir and Ariel were killed in an Israeli air strike in November 2023.

Yarden Bibas, who was released by Hamas this month, had previously accused Benjamin Netanyahu’s government of responsibility for their deaths. In a November 2023 statement, he claimed that the Israeli prime minister bombed and killed his wife and two children.

REMEMBER: ISRAEL KILLED THE BIBAS FAMILY

Here is the Plea from November 2023, with Yarden Bibas, whose wife, Sherry, and two children, Kfir and Ariel, were killed by Israeli bombing

Bibas:

“Netanyahu bombed and killed my wife and my two children, who were the most important… pic.twitter.com/7aYw5WOEAr

— Khalissee (@Kahlissee) February 18, 2025

It’s also reported that on recounting the deaths of the Bibas Family, CBS was forced to acknowledge that they were killed by Israeli air strikes, not Hamas.

In reporting on the deaths of the Bibas Family, CBS is forced to acknowledge they were killed by Israeli airstrikes, not Hamas. Instead of pressing Israeli officials on slaughtering their own people in addition to 20,000 Palestinians, the reporter shrieks at a Hamas official.… https://t.co/behqiq2xFa

— Dan Cohen (@dancohen3000) December 1, 2023

Observers point out that Israel’s government knew of their deaths for 15 months but chose to maintain an air of uncertainty, possibly to use the tragedy to break the ceasefire agreement. Hamas claims that it offered previously to return the bodies, stating: “The resistance offered to hand over the three bodies, but the occupation government refused to receive them and is still manoeuvring and bargaining.”

The Committee’s inflammatory statement that, “Israel has every right to finish the job and eradicate these terrorists from the face of the earth,” has raised concerns about attempts to sabotage the ceasefire agreement as it nears the end of its first phase.

Former Israeli spokesperson Eylon Levy also pushed the false claim about the Bibas family: “Hamas is still holding two CHILDREN hostage. For nearly ten months! They had better still be alive,” he said on social media.

The false claim was shot down by activists. “In November 2023, Hamas announced that Shiri, Ariel and Kfir Bibas were killed in an Israeli strike. This was widely reported, including in Israeli media. Does the House majority on the US Foreign Affairs Committee have evidence to support its allegation made below?” said Jeremy Scahill, a reporter at DropSiteNews.

In November 2023, Hamas announced that Shiri, Ariel and Kfir Bibas were killed in an Israeli strike. This was widely reported, including in Israeli media. Does the House majority on the U.S. Foreign Affairs Committee have evidence to support its allegation made below? https://t.co/gquplpBNKc

— jeremy scahill (@jeremyscahill) February 18, 2025

Gaza journalist Muhammad Shehada pointed out that he has been warning for months about the Bibas tragedy being weaponised by Israel. “I told you this would happen! I told you a month ago! I told you Israel’s gov & it’s allies will use the Bibas tragedy to blow up the ceasefire at the end of phase 1. Israel’s gov had known for 15 months that the Bibas were dead & deliberately chose to pretend otherwise!”

I told you this would happen! I told you a month ago!

I told you Israel’s gov & it’s allies will use the Bibas tragedy to blow up the ceasefire at the end of phase 1

Israel’s gov had known for 15 months that the Bibas were dead & deliberately chose to pretend otherwise! pic.twitter.com/N2PlBYn1Nu

— Muhammad Shehada (@muhammadshehad2) February 18, 2025

READ: Hamas rejects disarmament, expulsion from Gaza amid ceasefire talks