Following the release of more hostages by Hamas to Israel last night, officials agreed to extend their ceasefire for another two days as both sides continue to negotiate the terms for releasing more prisoners.
But hopes that Hamas would eventually be able to return all the hostages to Israel without difficulty were dashed last night when it emerged that as many as 40 people captured in the brutal October 7 attacks – including 10-month-old Kfir Bibas – are no longer are under the captivity of Israel. the Palestinian group.
IDF spokesman Avichay Adraee stated yesterday that Kfir, his four-year-old brother Ariel and mother Shiri had been taken to Khan Younis in southern Gaza and handed over to elements of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) – a jihadist group that aims to destroy Israel and has historically rejected any diplomatic involvement in Tel-Aviv.
Hamas officials also acknowledged that some of the hostages were now in PIJ custody, and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, who led the effort to broker a ceasefire, said they ‘may never be able to reach them’.
And in yet another layer of complexity, it is feared that some Israelis have been captured by civilian gangs who have taken advantage of the chaos of October 7 to seize hostages themselves.
The Qatari prime minister said yesterday that Hamas must locate the remaining hostages, who he said were being held by “civilians and gangs.”
“If they get additional women and children, there will be an extension,” Sheikh Mohammed said.
“We don’t have clear information yet on how many they can find… one of the purposes (of the pause) is so that they will have time to look for the rest of the missing people.”
Baby Kfir (pictured) had just learned to walk when he, his brother Ariel, four, and his mother Shiri, 32, were taken from his family’s home in Kibbutz Nir Oz.
Shiri Silberman Bibas and sons Ariel, four, and Kfir, who are missing along with their husband/father Jordan (Yarden) Bibas after being taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz during the Israel-Hamas conflict
Armed men of Palestinian Islamic Jihad are seen in the West Bank
A woman walks through an alley near graffiti with the logo of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, who led the effort to broker a ceasefire, said there is “no clear information on how many (hostages) Hams can find… one of the purposes (of the pause) is that they will’. have time to look for the rest of the missing people’
Israeli tanks are seen in the Gaza Strip
Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), which seeks Israel’s destruction, has clashed repeatedly with the Israeli army in recent years and has always rejected any political compromise.
Hamas and PIJ are both militarized groups, but they differ in origin and focus.
Hamas is a political and social movement with an armed wing and rules the Gaza Strip. PIJ, on the other hand, is an independent jihadist group with closer ties to Iran.
Unlike Hamas, PIJ is not involved in governance and focuses on armed resistance.
The two organizations compete in Gaza, but are both in opposition to Israel.
The head of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Ziad al-Nakhala, says his organization remains opposed not only to normalizing relations with Israel, but also to the entire peace process that began with the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt in 1978 .
“We affirm that our resistance continues, and that the Islamic Jihad movement, born from the spirit of Islam, continues on its path. It has not compromised and will not indulge in delusions,” he said.
Baby Kfir had just learned to walk when he, along with his brother Ariel, four, and his mother Shiri, 32, were taken from his family’s home in Kibbutz Nir Oz during the Hamas raid on October 7.
During the deadly attack on Israel, Shiri, her husband Yarden, 34, and the two young boys hid desperately in a safe room, armed only with a gun, but were pulled out when Hamas gunmen broke down their door.
The image of the two young boys being carried by their weeping mother, Shiri, as they were marched from their homes was one of the most striking published in the early days of the war between Israel and Hamas.
Yarden’s fate is unknown and he is believed to be dead or one of approximately 200 hostages remaining in Hamas custody.
But now Shiri and the children are believed to be in the custody of PIJ.
Their family said in a statement last night: ‘We are experiencing moments of great uncertainty. The realization that we will not get the hug we want leaves us speechless.’
It remains to be seen how closely Hamas and PIJ will coordinate the treatment and possible release of the hostages, although Hamas official Osama Hamdan told Qatari news channel Al-Arabi yesterday that the two groups were “preparing hostage lists.”
But IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari later stated that Hamas will still bear responsibility for all Israeli hostages.
“The responsibility for the kidnapped people in general, including members of the Bibas family, held by the factions in the Gaza Strip, lies solely with Hamas,” he said.
Tal Goldstein-Almog, 9, (pictured) was cradled by his loved ones after he and the other hostages returned to Israel
Agam Goldstein-Almog, 17, (pictured, center) is embraced by loved ones in Israel last night after spending weeks as a hostage
A yet-unidentified hostage was seen leaving Hamas prison in a wheelchair, while several others were seen wearing bright pink clothing yesterday.
Israel said Hamas returned another 11 hostages from the Gaza Strip on Monday, bringing to 69 the total number of Israeli and foreign hostages the Palestinian group has released under the truce since Friday.
White House and Qatar negotiators confirmed Monday that the original four-day pause in fighting had been extended for another two days.The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said the government has approved the addition of 50 female prisoners to the list of Palestinians for possible release if more Israeli hostages are released.
Hamas said it has sought to review the conditions under which it would free hostages, in addition to the women and children it has already released.
“We hope that the occupation (Israel) will adhere to the agreement in the next two days, because in addition to women and children, we are looking for a new agreement, where we can exchange other categories that we have,” said Hamas official Khalil Al -Hayya. Al Jazeera said this late on Monday.
That, he said, would mean allowing “an additional period to continue exchanging people at this stage.”
Among the hostages Hamas continues to hold are the fathers and husbands of those it released in recent days.
Israel previously said it would extend the ceasefire by one day for every 10 additional hostages released, which would provide some respite from the war.
But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains resolute in his intentions to crush Hamas, citing his troops would resume its offensive ‘with all our might’ as soon as the armistice expires.
After the Qatari-brokered deal was agreed last week, Netanyahu said the goals of “eliminating Hamas and recovering the hostages” would continue unhindered regardless of when the ceasefire ultimately ends.
“At the end of the day, we will return them all,” he said of the hostages, adding that “we will continue until the end, until victory.” Nothing will stop us.’