Gaza Updates: Hamas will pay for not returning body of Shiri Bibas — Netanyahu

Friday, February 21, 2025

0720 GMT –– Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel would make Hamas pay for failing to release the body of hostage Shiri Bibas as agreed.

"We will act with determination to bring Shiri home along with all our hostages - both living and dead - and ensure Hamas pays the full price for this cruel and evil violation of the agreement," he said in a video statement.

The statement came after Israel claimed that one of the four bodies handed over by Hamas on Thursday was an unidentified woman and not Shiri Bibas, whose two sons, Kfir and Ariel were handed over and identified.

0717 GMT –– Gaza war must not be reignited and truce must be effectively implemented: China

China's foreign minister has said that the Gaza war must not be restarted and the current ceasefire must be carried out effectively.

Speaking at a G20 foreign ministers meeting in Johannesburg, Wang Yi said the conflict has caused an unprecedented humanitarian disaster.

"The war must not be reignited and the ceasefire agreement must be continuously and effectively implemented," Wang said.

0659 GMT –– US official threatens Hamas over remains it said were not those of prisoner as pledged

A senior US official has issued a warning to Palestinian group Hamas after the Israeli army claimed the group had returned an unidentified body instead of that of Israeli hostage Shiri Bibas.

Adam Boehler, the US envoy for hostages, condemned Hamas’ alleged actions, calling them “horrific” and a “clear violation” of the ceasefire in Gaza.

Speaking to CNN, Boehler escalated his rhetoric — echoing earlier threats by President Donald Trump against Hamas — saying: “If I were them, I’d release everybody or they are going to face total annihilation.”

0652 GMT –– Netanyahu orders crackdown in West Bank after Israel bus blasts

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered an intensified military crackdown on the occupied West Bank, his office said.

The move comes after explosions tore through three empty buses in parking lots in the Tel Aviv suburbs of Bat Yam and Holon on Thursday evening, several Israeli media outlets reported.

No one was injured, according to police reports cited by the daily Yedioth Ahronoth.

In a statement, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said: “Following the attempt to perpetrate a chain of mass bus bombings, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has just completed a security assessment with the Defense Minister, the IDF (Israeli army) Chief-of-Staff, the ISA (Israeli Security Agency) Director and the Israel Police Inspector General".

The office added that Netanyahu has ordered the Israeli army “to carry out an intensive operation against centres of terrorism” in the occupied West Bank.

0410 GMT — Hamas says it is waiting for Israel to implement humanitarian protocol

The Palestinian resistance group Hamas has said that it is still waiting for Israel to implement all provisions of the "humanitarian protocol" related to the Gaza ceasefire while reaffirming its readiness to fully execute the agreement in all its phases.

In a statement, Hamas spokesperson Abdul Latif Al-Qanoua emphasised that the group is prepared to follow through on its commitments under the deal. However, he said Israel is failing to meet its obligations, particularly regarding humanitarian conditions in Gaza.

Hamas reported multiple violations by Israel, including attacks causing casualties, delays in civilian returns, obstruction of humanitarian aid, and restrictions on medical and infrastructure supplies.

0421 GMT — Libya's parliament speaker 'categorically' rejects plans to displace Palestinians from Gaza

Libyan House of Representatives Speaker Aguila Saleh has reaffirmed his absolute and unequivocal rejection of any plans to displace Palestinians from Gaza or other occupied Palestinian territories.

Saleh made the remarks during a speech at the inauguration ceremony of Benghazi International Stadium, which was restored by a Turkish company after remaining closed for 16 years.

In his speech, Saleh warned that “dangerous conspiracies are being orchestrated to liquidate the Palestinian cause following 15 months of massacres against the people of Gaza, witnessed live by the world as Israel slaughtered unarmed civilians, including women and children.”

He strongly emphasised that the “forced displacement of even a single Palestinian is categorically rejected, let alone the mass expulsion of all residents of Gaza.”