Israel's Netanyahu calls for 'revenge' after Hamas returns wrong remains

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed "revenge" on Hamas after it was discovered that the body in a coffin bearing Shiri Bibas’ name and photo was an unidentified woman, and not the kidnapped mother of two.

On Thursday, Hamas was supposed to deliver the bodies of Shiri, Ariel and Kfir Bibas and Oded Lifshitz. However, during the identification process, Israel discovered that the body inside Shiri’s coffin was not hers. 

"These Hamas monsters also cynically refused to bring back the boys’ mother, Shiri, and sent the body of a Gazan woman instead, in brazen violation of the agreement," Netanyahu said in a statement on Friday.

Ofri Bibas Levy, whose brother Yarden, 34, was taken hostage with his wife Shiri, 32, and two children, Airel and Kfir. (REUTERS/Denis Balibouse)

TERROR GROUP RESPONDS AFTER FAILING TO RETURN THE BODY OF MURDERED HOSTAGE SHIRI BIBAS

"And as the prime minister of Israel, I vow that I will not rest until the savages who executed our hostages are brought to justice. They do not deserve to walk this earth. Nothing will stop me. Nothing," he added.

IDF Spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, citing forensic findings and intelligence, confirmed on Friday that Ariel and Kfir Bibas "were murdered by terrorists in cold blood. The terrorists did not shoot the two young boys, they killed them with their own hands. Afterwards, they committed horrific acts to cover up these atrocities."

Hagari said Hamas’ handing over "the body of an anonymous woman" instead of Shiri Bibas was "further evidence of Hamas’ barbaric cruelty."

Ofri Bibas Levy wears a shirt with her brother, sister-in-law and their two children, aged 4 and 10 months held captive in Gaza, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

Ofri Bibas Levy, Yarden Bibas’ sister, however, struck a different chord in a statement released by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.

"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, we did not receive an apology from you in this painful moment. For Ariel and Kfir's sake, and for Yarden's sake, we are not seeking revenge right now. We are asking for Shiri," Levy said in the statement.

Hamas terrorists took the Bibas family was taken from their kibbutz on Oct. 7, 2023. (FOX & Friends/Screengrab)

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The revelation that Shiri’s body was not returned alongside her sons sparked widespread outrage. World leaders and celebrities, including Dr. Phil and Patricia Heaton, condemned Hamas’ actions and expressed their disgust with the terror group.

Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-Ny, who has been outspoken about his support for Israel, slammed those criticizing the Jewish state’s response to Hamas’ attacks.

"Those who insist that Israel stop defending itself in the face of genocidal terror are asking the world’s only Jewish State to sign a suicide pact that no other nation-state, including our own, would ever sign," Torres wrote on X.

U.S. Envoy for Hostages Adam Boehler called Hamas’ actions "horrific" and "a clear violation" of the ceasefire agreement while speaking with CNN’s Anderson Cooper on Thursday. Boehler warned that if Hamas does not release all the remaining hostages, it will "face total annihilation."

Netanyahu also delivered a message to the fallen Israelis whose bodies were returned by Hamas on Thursday.

"Ariel, Kfir and Oded: I am so sorry we couldn't save you from the monsters who did this. We honor your kind and loving souls, so tragically cut down by evil terror," the prime minister said.

Israel is preparing to receive six living hostages on Saturday, two of whom have been held hostage in Gaza for over a decade.

Rachel Wolf is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital and FOX Business.