The three remaining captives of the Bibas family – mother Shiri, infant son Kfir, and his older brother Ariel – who became symbols since their abduction on October 7, have been named among the returning fallen hostages, all but dashing the hopes many all over the world had held since the horrific footage of their abduction spread.
Final forensics analysis will be carried out on Thursday once Hamas hands them over as part of the latest exchange in Phase I of the hostage deal, in which four fallen hostages are returned. The family said after the autopsies are complete and confirmation is given as to their identity, the mourning period could begin, urging Israelis to wait. Their father, Yarden was recently released from captivity after 484 days in the most recent exchange.
The 34-year-old father Yarden was kidnapped separately while wounded. Each day, many tried to gather information about whether the family from Nir Oz was on the list, and their photos appeared in newspapers, on television, and across social media with their most identifying feature – their red hair. The video of Shiri trying to protect her two children with her hands, terror on her face as she was surrounded by many brutal terrorists, became a symbol of the kidnapping and haunted many mothers and everyone else.
Last year, the murderous terror organization Hamas claimed the three family members were dead and blamed the IDF. Israel could not remain indifferent, and shortly after, the IDF spokesperson announced they were examining the credibility of Hamas claims that the family members were killed during IDF bombings in the Gaza Strip during Operation Iron Swords. Shiri's parents, Yossi and Margit Silberman, were also murdered on that tragic day.
"It feels like the end"
Shiri, born in Kibbutz Nir Oz to her father Yossi who immigrated from Argentina at age 18, married Yarden Bibas, and together they had two sons. The eldest, Ariel, was nicknamed by his father "the first Yemenite ginger," a clever and mischievous child. Kfir was born 10 months ago. Videos of Yarden kissing him on his back and making him burst with laughter are a memory of their happy life in the kibbutz.
That Saturday, terrorists overtook Nir Oz, reaching the Bibas family home. They breached the locked door using a drill and equipment they brought with them and entered the safe room where the four were hiding. Father Yarden reported to his family in real-time about the terrorists' entry and wrote "it feels like the end." He tried to defend the family with his personal weapon and was attacked. In photos, he is seen on a motorcycle between two terrorists, wounded and bleeding from his head, while the terrorist holds a blood-stained hammer. During the attack, the family dog Tony was also killed.
On the morning of the second swap as part of the implementation of the deal, the Bibas relatives posted on social media, writing about their difficult days and expressing criticism of the media and government.
"Morning 477. Again last night our souls found no rest. Yesterday at 16:00, when the list of those designated for release was published – our world collapsed. Although they prepared us for this, we hoped to see Shiri and the children on the list, which was supposed to be a list of civilian women.
"In the evening, when we turned on the news, our pain, our struggle, and especially the crucial discourse about the complexity and tragedy of them not being on the list disappeared from the broadcasters' lips in the studios. Does the grave concern for their lives negate the fact that they are civilians in captivity who need to return home? Does the grave concern for their lives negate the fact that the state is obligated in this deal to give us certainty? Does the grave concern for Shiri's life mean there is no longer a need to show her picture as a civilian kidnapped in Gaza whose fate is unknown? The answer is no."
