Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday berated Hamas for failing to hand over the remains of Shiri Bibas, a mother of two taken hostage by militants, despite a promise to do so.

Mr Netanyahu clarified that the body returned was that of a Gaza resident, not Ms Bibas.

Hamas had claimed to send the bodies of Ms Bibas’ sons, Ariel (4) and Kfir (9 months), along with 84-year-old peace activist Oded Lifshitz. However, forensic experts later determined that the fourth coffin did not contain Shiri Bibas’ remains, as claimed by Hamas.

The Israeli military called this a “violation of utmost severity” of the fragile ceasefire agreement.

“The cruelty of the Hamas monsters knows no bounds,” said the Israeli PM.

He vowed to bring all hostages home, both living and deceased and ensure that Hamas pays the price for the violation.

Hamas had claimed Ms Bibas and her children were killed in an Israeli airstrike, but no evidence has been presented to support this claim.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum expressed devastation over the failure to return Ms Bibas and urged the world to act to secure the release of all hostages. 

(dpa/NAN)