Warped Hamas warlords REFUSE to release youngest hostage instead handing ... trends now
Israel has claimed that Hamas has moved its youngest hostage into the IDF's firing line, hours after it tonight received the third group of hostages from the terror group.
Hamas has handed ten-month-old Kfir Bibas to a separate Palestinian terror group in the southern city of Khan Younis, an IDF spokesperson today claimed.
Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Colonel Avihai Adrei said the 'babies with the red hair' were 'now being held by one of the factions' in the area around Khan Younis, Gaza, according to a message posted on X.
Baby Kfir had just learned to walk when he, along with his brother Ariel, four, and his mother Shiri, 32, was taken from his family's home in Kibbutz Nir Oz during Hamas' incursion on October 7.
During the deadly attack on Israel, Shiri, her husband Yarden, 34, and the two young boys desperately hid in a safe room armed only with a pistol, only to be taken out as Hamas gunmen smashed down their door.
Baby Kfir (pictured) had just learned to walk when he, along with his brother Ariel, four, and his mother Shiri, 32, was taken from his family's home in Kibbutz Nir Oz
Agam Goldstein-Almog, 17, (pictured, centre) was seen back in the arms of her loved ones after spending weeks as a hostage
One as-yet-unidentified hostage was seen leaving Hamas custody in a wheelchair, while several others were seen in bright pink clothes
Yuli Cunio, three, Emma Cunio, three, and Sharon Aloni Cunio, 34, (pictured) were all released today
Tal Goldstein-Almog, 9, (pictured) was seen being cradled by his loved ones after he and the other hostages arrived back in Israel
The image of the two young boys being carried by their weeping mother, Shiri, as they were marched from their homes was one of the most striking to be published in the early days of the Israel-Hamas war
The image of the two young boys being carried by their weeping mother, Shiri, as they were marched from their homes was one of the most striking to be published in the early days of the Israel-Hamas war.
Yarden's fate is unknown, and it is believed that he is either dead or one of the roughly 200 hostages remaining in Hamas custody.
Their family said in a statement today: 'We are experiencing moments of great uncertainty. The realisation that we will not get the hug we wished for leaves us speechless.'
While it is not known exactly which group currently holds the family, military analyst Michael Horowitz said: 'It appears they may be in the hands of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).'
The PFLP is one of the largest groups that form the political coalition that claims to represent the West Bank and Gaza.
It does not recognise Israel as a state, and has historically pushed for a one-state solution with Palestine at the steering wheel.
The hostages are now safely back in Israel, after spending weeks in Hamas' custody
The hostages released tonight were largely made up of young children, teenagers and mothers
The hostages were handed over to the Red Cross tonight
The group are believed to be holding the Bibas family in Khan Younis, the Gaza Strip's second city, which in 2017 was home to just over 205,000 people.
Though they may be held by a different group, IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said the responsibility for the hostages remained with Hamas.
The city is set to be the next target in Israel's bloody offensive against the Gaza Strip, which has so far killed over 14,000, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
Israel urged Palestinians living in the city to leave just over a week ago, suggesting it will soon be the site of renewed fighting once the now-extended ceasefire concludes.
Mark Regev, an adviser to Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, told MSNBC earlier this month: 'We're asking people to relocate. I know it's not easy for many of them, but we don't want to see civilians caught up in the crossfire.
Regev said that IDF troops would need to go into the city to take out Hamas fighters from underground tunnels.
Sahar Kalderon, 16, was held by Hamas for over seven weeks, and was today released under the extended ceasefire deal
Erez Kalderon, 12, was today released by Hamas terrorists after being captive for over seven weeks
He said he was 'pretty sure' Palestinians who needed to relocate from the city 'won't have to move again' if they headed west, towards the Mediterranean Sea.
It is currently unclear when fighting in the Gaza Strip will resume, as Hamas and Israel are currently nearing the end of a since-extended ceasefire.
The temporary truce, originally set for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, was extended just hours before the initial agreement was due to end and suggesting that more hostages will be released from Gaza this week.
The terms of the truce agreement pausing the fighting in the Gaza Strip say it can be extended beyond its initial four-day term as long as 10 hostages are released for each extra day, with three times as many Palestinians freed in return.
Qatar's Foreign Ministry said the truce had been extended by two more days, suggesting Hamas intends to released another 20 hostages on top of the 50 hostages that were set to be released over the first four days.
11 more hostages held by Hamas are now back on Israeli soil, after the fourth exchange of hostages and prisoners.
The brothers were seen in good spirits wearing earmuffs in a convoy that is currently taking them back to Israel
Despite the smiles, many of the children released have been forced to leave members of their families behind
