ISTANBUL

Israel's national forensic center confirmed the body of an Israeli hostage handed over by Hamas late Friday was that of Shiri Bibas, Israeli media reported on Saturday.

The Red Cross collected her body from Gaza late Friday, before handing it over to the Israeli military.

After extensive forensic testing, the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute confirmed that the remains transferred to Israel belonged to Bibas, the Jerusalem Post and Channel 12 confirmed.

Israeli authorities, however, have yet to release an official statement on the matter.

Palestinian resistance factions in Gaza handed over on Thursday remains of four Israeli hostages – Bibas, her two children, Kfir and Ariel, and captive Oded Lifshitz.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, later claimed that Hamas had returned the body of a woman from Gaza instead of Bibas.

In response, Hamas said there was a possibility of an error or mix-up in the bodies after Israeli bombardment.

The ceasefire deal took effect on Jan. 19, halting Israel’s genocidal war since Oct. 7, 2023, which has killed more than 48,000 people, mostly women and children, and left the enclave in ruins.