Fears grow for baby Kfir as Israel ‘can’t confirm’ if 10-month-old Hamas hostage snatched with mum & brother are alive

: "We can't confirm at this stage what Hamas said, and I'd be very cautious in accepting anything that Hamas says to begin with. 

"Of course, you know, we're utilizing our intelligence in order to try and determine their situation. I don't have anything to report at this stage."

Lerner added he is "concerned" about the well-being of all of the hostages adding that released hostages were giving accounts of their own experiences.

He said: "Some some of the stories that are coming out are heartbreaking, heart-wrenching, and extremely concerning."

Baby Kfir, his brother Ariel, four, and their mum Shiri, 32 were snatched by the terrorists on October 7.

Harrowing footage showed the moment the family was kidnapped by Hamas from Kibbutz Nir Oz during their bloody massacre.

Shiri was seen clutching the two boys in 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".

Just a few hours before the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas was agreed last month, Hamas's military wing shockingly claimed they were all killed in the besieged enclave.

The terror group did not provide any evidence and Israel scrambled to investigate the claims.

The Bibas family who are desperate for answers released a statement last week saying they hope the Hamas allegations are untrue.

The statement read: "Our family has learned of Hamas' latest claims.

"We are waiting for the information to be confirmed and hopefully refuted by military officials."

Israel believes that baby Kfir is being held captive as a "trophy" and has been handed over to another Palestinian terror group.

The IDF stated that Kfir and his family are being held by another "faction" in the terror stronghold Khan Younis.