There was no immediate reaction from Hamas.

A poster of Israeli hostage Shiri Bibas in Jerusalem. The Israeli military says a body released by Hamas that was supposed to be Shiri was found not to match with any hostage. Source: AAP / Abir Sultan/EPA

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier vowed revenge on Hamas after the group released the remains of what it said were four hostages, including that of Kfir and Ariel, the youngest of those abducted during the October 7 attack in 2023.

The purported remains of the boys, their mother and Lifshitz, were handed over under the Gaza ceasefire agreement reached last month with the backing of the United States and the mediation of Qatar and Egypt.

“Agony. Pain. There are no words. Our hearts — the hearts of an entire nation — lie in tatters,” said President Isaac Herzog.

“Our loved ones’ blood is shouting at us from the soil and is obliging us to settle the score with the despicable murderers, and we will,” he said.

UN chief condemns ‘parading of bodies’

He said international law required remains to be handed over in a way that ensures “respect for the dignity of the deceased and their families”.

‘Shiri and the kids became a symbol’

Lifshitz was 83 when he was abducted from Nir Oz, the kibbutz he helped found. His wife, Yocheved, 85 at the time, was seized with him and released two weeks later, along with another woman.

Negotiations for a second phase, expected to cover the return of around 60 remaining hostages, less than half of whom are believed to be alive, and a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip to allow an end to the war, are expected to begin in the coming days.