SECONDS TICK BY
Family of baby Kfir break silence during agonising wait for answers as Israel probes Hamas claim that he’s been killed
Israeli PM Netanyahu vowed the ground offensive will continue after the ceasefire
THE shattered family of Hamas' youngest hostage, baby Kfir Bibas, have broken their silence as Israel probes a shocking claim by the terror group that the 10-month-old was killed in Gaza.
Kfir's relatives revealed they are aware of the allegations he died alongside his mum and brother in an airstrike, but hope they are untrue.
13
13
13
13
13
Just hours before releasing its sixth group of hostages as part of its truce deal with Israel, Hamas' military wing alleged that Kfir, his brother Ariel, four, and mum Shiri, 32, were all killed in the besieged enclave amid the ongoing Gaza conflict.
The fanatics claimed the family - who were snatched on October 7 - all died before the period of ceasefire began on Friday.
Hamas chiefs claimed without evidence that they were killed in Israeli shelling - but this has not been verified.
The Bibas family have now released a statement saying: "Our family has learned of Hamas' latest claims.
MORE ON ISRAEL
"We are waiting for the information to be confirmed and hopefully refuted by military officials."
The terrorist group has been accused of using civilians and hostages as human shields as they hide out in Gaza.
Israel is scrambling to verify Hamas' claim after the terrorists repeatedly failed to offer information on the trio.
It came as Hamas released 14 more people from captivity.
Most read in The Sun
Ahead of the release of the sixth group of hostages, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu declared the offensive would continue in Gaza so it “never again returns to being a threat to Israel.”
He said in a video statement: “In recent days I’ve heard a question: Will Israel return to fighting after this stage of returning our hostages is over?
"My response is an unequivocal yes. There is no way we won’t return to fighting until the end.”
And Minister of Defense Yoav Galant added: "If anyone has doubts - very soon we will continue with the ground operation throughout the Gaza Strip."
The IDF said chief of staff Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi had already approved battle plans for the next stage of the ground offensive.
He said: "We know what needs to be done, and are ready for the next step," he said.
A statement by the IDF read: "Today the chief of staff held a session to approve plans for the subsequent phases of the fighting at the headquarters of the southern command.
A Palestinian official earlier said that despite a willingness on both sides to prolong the truce, no agreement had yet been reached.
Discussions were still underway with mediators Egypt and Qatar, the official said.
Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy said Israel would consider any serious proposal, though he declined to provide further details.
"We are doing everything we can in order to get those hostages out. Nothing is confirmed until it is confirmed," Levy told reporters in Tel Aviv.
"We're talking about very sensitive negotiations in which human lives hang in the balance."
Once the release of hostages ends, the fighting will resume, he said: "This war will end with the end of Hamas."
IDF officials confirmed they were in contact with the Bibas family, and once again slammed the terrorist group as being "cruel and inhuman".
It will be an agonising wait for the Bibas family who have been anxiously awaiting news on Kfir, his brother, his mum, and his dad Yarden, 34.
Kfir, Ariel and Shiri were filmed being snatched by Hamas from Kibbutz Nir Oz during their vile massacre.
Shiri's despairing face as she clung to her two red-haired boys was one of the most haunting images of October 7.
Horrified onlookers screamed "she has a baby" as she was bundled away by Hamas.
The family was hiding in a safe room in their home on the border with Gaza when the terrorists attacked.
Yarden texted relatives "I love you all" as they sheltered - before telling family members "they are coming in".
Another clip showed the dad suffering from a head injury after being repeatedly hit with a hammer by Hamas butchers.
Yarden's status remains unknown - and his death was not claimed yesterday by Hamas.
The family have been desperate for news, but yesterday said that Hamas did not know if the hostages were "alive or dead".
And the photo of little smiling Kfir clutching his pink elephant toy has been seen around the world as millions waited for his release.
It comes after the IDF said on Monday that Hamas "no longer has control" of the Bibas hostages.
They were allegedly handed over to a separate Palestinian terror group in a sick trade - being treated like "loot".
The IDF stated that Kfir and his family were being held by another "faction" in the southern city of Khan Younis, which is expected to be a major target in Israel's next offensive.
The young baby's family earlier said time was running out as they cried: "If we wait another day, we may lose him."
They believe the 10-month-old baby boy is being used as a "trophy" after Hamas monsters allegedly traded him with another terrorist group inside bomb-blitzed Gaza.
Children still beig held by Hamas in Gaza
- Gali Tarshansky, 13
- Amit Shani, 16
- Ofir Engel, 18
- Bilal Ziyadne, 18
- Aisha Ziyadne, 17
- Liam Or, 18
- Itay Regev, 18
Ofri begged for their safe return and told local media: "At the moment they are the youngest hostages still remaining in Hamas captivity.
“We don’t know where they’ve been held. From what we know, they are kept underground.
“We’re really worried about the 10-month-old baby with formula as the main diet.”
Yesterday, the heartbroken relatives accused Hamas of not knowing whether the Bibas family are "dead or alive".
But their worst fear came true as the evil terrorists announced the news of his death.
IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said: "Hamas is wholly responsible for the security of all hostages in the Gaza Strip.
"Hamas must be held accountable. Hamas’ actions continue to endanger the hostages, which include nine children.
"Hamas must immediately release our hostages.
"The IDF, along with other security agencies, will continue to accompany the Bibas family, as well as all families of the hostages and missing persons."
He previously said that "the terrorist organization Hamas continues to act in a cruel and inhuman manner."
"IDF representatives spoke with the members of the Bibas family, informed them of the publication and are accompanying them at this time.
"The IDF is examining the reliability of the information.
"The responsibility for the safety of all the abductees and abductees in the Gaza Strip lies fully with the terrorist organization Hamas."
He added: "Hamas endangers the abductees, including nine children. Hamas is required to immediately return them to Israel.
13
13
13
13
13
"The IDF together with all the bodies will continue to accompany the Bibas family, as well as all the families of the abductees and abductees.
"The IDF works with all means, intelligence and operational, in order to return the abductees home."
Security analyst Michael A. Horowitz suggested taking the Hamas claims "with a pinch of salt," noting that other hostages who previously were reported to be dead, turned up alive.
He tweeted: "I would take this with a pinch of salt, as the group is adept at waging psychological warfare against Israel, through the hostages.
"The Palestinian Islamic Jihad also announced that Hannah Katzir had died, but then she ended up alive, and was released.
"I also would not expect that Hamas would say this if it was true - but this does remain possible."
Besides Kfir, the youngest hostage in Gaza and his brother Ariel, another eight children are being held hostage by the terror group.
Gali Tarshansky, 13, was hiding in her family's safe room when Hamas broke into her home in Kibbutz Be'eri.
Both Gali and her dad jumped out of the window and survived, but she was taken hostage soon after.
16-year-old Amit Shani was the only member of his family to have been taken by Hamas on October 7.
He was kidnapped in front of his mother and ordered into a black car with his neighbour.
Dutch-Israeli citizen Ofir Engel, who turned 18 in Gaza, had been visiting his girlfriend when he was kidnapped from Kibbutz Be'eri on October 7.
Siblings Bilal Ziyadne, 18, and Aisha Ziyadne, 17, also remain in Gaza after being kidnapped from the Kibbutz Holit cowshed.
Their family has been described as "simple people" who have always worked for their local kibbutzim.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Liam Or, 18, was kidnapped alongside his cousins Noam, 17, and Alma, 13, from Kibbutz Be'eri,
Noam and Alma were released as part of the temporary ceasefire on November 25, but Liam remains captive.
13
13
13
Topics