Middle East latest: Israel says child hostages identified but other released body not their mother

Hamas on Thursday released four bodies they said were Israeli hostages, including two young children who were long feared dead and have symbolized the nation’s agony following the Oct. 7, 2023, attack. But Israel's military later said one of the bodies released by Hamas was not the boys’ mother.

Hamas militants had turned over the bodies under the tenuous ceasefire that has paused over 15 months of war. Israeli confirmed one body was that of Oded Lifshitz, who was 83 when he was abducted during the Hamas attack that started the war on Oct. 7, 2023.

The remains of Ariel and Kfir Bibas were identified by the National Institute of Forensic Medicine in collaboration with the Israel Police and the families were notified, the Israeli Defense Forces said in a statement. But the additional body was not that of their mother Shiri Bibas, nor any other hostage, the IDF said.

The first phase of the ceasefire ends in early March, however Israel and Hamas have yet to negotiate the second and more difficult phase. Palestinians and Arab countries have universally rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal to remove the Palestinian population from Gaza and take over the territory.