The declaration, issued on the war's 800th day through a coordinated effort with October Council (organization representing October 7 families), arrives as most abducted Israelis have returned from Gaza. Among those who signed: former captives Yarden Bibas, Arbel Yehoud, Luis Har, Gadi Moshe Mozes, and Amit Soussana, joined by scores of bereaved relatives.

"We demand truth. We demand justice. We demand accountability," the letter declared. "If you refuse to accept responsibility and convene such a commission as the majority of Israelis demand, vacate your positions and allow the people to choose."

The complete text: "Investigate everything"

"We – the freed hostages, families of survivors, relatives of slain captives, and those whose loved ones were seized alive only to be murdered in captivity – stand unified behind one unambiguous demand: the formation of an independent state commission of inquiry.

"Such a commission represents the sole mechanism capable of examining without intimidation, without favoritism, and without constraints the complete sequence of breakdowns that preceded the day of failure, events that transpired during the catastrophe, and every decision-making procedure concerning the hostages and war management.

"This commission must examine every dimension of that day, encompassing the disintegration of defense and intelligence operations, the unanswered pleas for assistance, the hours-long desertion of Gaza border communities, and the forsaking of civilians and soldiers to the nightmare that consumed Israeli soil.

"Equally critical, it must scrutinize developments since October 7: How authorities reached decisions during hostage negotiations, what caused recurring postponements, how diplomatic and military leadership coordinated, what public officials stated and enacted and how those choices affected captives' survival, their physical and psychological welfare, the destiny of those abducted alive but killed in captivity, and the extended period before deceased hostages reached their families. This, 799 days later with one slain hostage's body still detained – Ran Gvili.

"A commission of inquiry cannot serve political ends. It cannot include individuals who themselves require investigation. It must maintain transparency, professionalism, and complete authority to mandate evaluations, question witnesses, examine records, and deliver definitive findings including implementation powers. Only such an entity can uncover the full truth, not merely convenient revelations. Truth is not a privilege, but Israel's obligation to its citizens. Such truth provides the foundation for mending Israeli society, rebuilding confidence in governance, and constructing greater security for coming generations.

"Without truth-seeking, we cannot guarantee the October 7 catastrophe will never recur, and without accepting responsibility, we cannot properly commemorate those who perished, those who suffered abduction, and those remaining in Gaza.

"We challenge Israel's government to cease avoiding, cease postponing, cease concealing, and immediately authorize a comprehensive state commission of inquiry. Passing time exacts severe costs – corrupted testimony, suppressed evidence, incapacity to pursue truth, comprehend breakdowns, and counter falsehoods. This constitutes an essential, ethical, and fundamental action in democratic governance. We demand truth. We demand justice. We demand accountability. And we demand it immediately.

"If you do not intend to take responsibility and establish such a commission as demanded by the majority of the people, vacate your positions and let the people decide."

Those who signed the demand

Former captive Yarden Bibas, widower of Shiri Bibas and bereaved father of Ariel Bibas and Kfir Bibas, murdered in Hamas detention; freed hostage Arbel Yehoud; freed hostage Clara Marman; freed hostage Shiri Weiss, mother of freed hostage Noga Weiss and widow of slain hostage Ilan Weiss; freed hostage Shani Goren; freed hostage Ariel Cunio; freed hostage Sharon Aloni Cunio, mother of freed hostages Ema and Yuly Cunio and wife of freed hostage David Cunio.

Released captives David Cunio and Sagui Dekel Chen; freed hostage Daniel Aloni, mother of freed hostage Emilia Aloni; freed hostage Amit Soussana; freed hostage Yafa Adar; freed hostage Fernando Marman; freed hostage Raz Ben Ami; freed hostage Ohad Ben Ami; freed hostage Luis Har; freed hostage Ditza Heiman; freed hostage Margalit Mozes; freed hostage Keren Munder, mother of freed hostage Ohad Munder and daughter of freed hostage Ruth Munder and deceased captive Abraham Munder, killed in Hamas detention; freed hostage Gabriela Leimberg and mother of freed hostage Mia Leimberg; freed hostage Raya Rotem; freed hostage Norlin Babadilla; freed hostage Agam Goldstein; freed hostage Chen Almog Goldstein; Renana Gome Yaakov, mother of freed hostages Or Yaakov and Yagil Yaakov; Einav Zangauker, mother of freed hostage Matan Zangauker; Lishay Lavi, wife of freed hostage Omri Miran; Hirut Nimrodi, mother of slain hostage Tamir Nimrodi.

Rishel Tzarfati, mother of deceased captive Ofir Tzarfati; Esther and Oren Buchshtab, parents of freed hostage Yagev Buchshtab; Anat Angrest, mother of freed hostage Matan Angrest; Nofar Buchshtab, sister of freed hostage Yagev Buchshtab; John and Rachel Goldberg-Polin, parents of slain hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin; Oksana Lobanov, mother of Alex Lobanov, killed in Hamas detention; Nira Sarusi, mother of Almog Sarusi, killed in Hamas detention; Ruby Chen, father of deceased captive Itay Chen; Eli and Shira Albag, parents of freed hostage Liri Albag; Asnat Peri, widow of Haim Peri, killed in Hamas detention; Asif and Gal Goren, children of Mia Goren, killed in Hamas detention; Tal Shani, mother of freed hostage Amit Shani; Orly Gilboa, mother of freed hostage Daniella Gilboa; Amir and Mirav Daniel, parents of deceased captive Oz Daniel; Reuma Arusi Tarshansky, mother of freed hostage Gali Tarshansky; Nira Sharabi, widow of slain hostage Yossi Sharabi, killed in Hamas detention.

Orna and Ronen Neutra, parents of Omer Neutra; Boaz, son of captive Arie Zalmanowicz, killed in Hamas detention; Irina Ariev, mother of freed hostage Karina Ariev; Dafna Shay Heiman, daughter of freed hostage Ditza Heiman; Maayan Sherman, mother of Ron Sherman, killed in Hamas detention; Ronen and Orna Neutra, parents of slain hostage Omer Neutra; Yuval Danzig, son of deceased captive Alex Danzig, killed in Hamas detention; Dvora Idan, mother of slain hostage Tsachi Idan, killed in Hamas detention; Ayelet Svatitzky, sister of deceased Nirim resident Roi Popplewell and sister of Nadav Popplewell, abducted and killed in captivity, and daughter of freed hostage Hanna Peri; Dana Or, mother of freed hostage Liam Or and sister of slain hostage Dror Or; Talma Atzili, mother of deceased captive Aviv Atzili; Ram and Guy Metzger, sons of Yoram Metzger, killed in detention, and freed hostage Tami Metzger; Sharon Lifshitz, daughter of Oded Lifshitz, killed in detention, and freed hostage Yocheved Lifshitz; Sharon, sister of Eden Yerushalmi, killed in detention; Yael Adar, mother of slain hostage Tamir Adar; Rani Goldin, brother of deceased captive Oren Goldin; Dalit Oron, mother of slain hostage Idan Shtivi; Efrat Avsker Yahalomi, sister of deceased captive Ohad Yahalomi, killed in Hamas detention; Shahar Levy, son of slain hostage Eitan Levy; Nisan Kalderon, brother of freed hostage Ofer Kalderon and uncle of freed hostages Sahar and Erez; Yitzhak Horn, father of freed hostages Yair Horn and Eitan Horn; Lee Segal, sister of freed hostage Keith Segal.

Yonatan Dekel-Chen, father of freed hostage Sagui Dekel-Chen; Yoav and Yonit Engel, parents of freed hostage Ofir Engel; Rotem Cooper, daughter of deceased captive Amiram Cooper, killed in Hamas detention; Chen Avigdori, husband of freed hostage Sharon Avigdori and father of freed hostage Noam Avigdori; Moshe Katz, father of freed hostage Doron Katz, abducted with daughters Raz and Aviv; Avital Kirsht, mother of freed hostage Rimon Kirsht; Aviram Meir, relative of freed hostage Almog Meir Jan; Maayan Segal-Koren, five of whose relatives survived detention, alongside scores of additional freed hostages and relatives.

The post 'Truth is not a privilege': Former hostages tell PM to resign or allow inquiry appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

This week, he landed in Israel straight from an event he'll never forget – the final performance, the historic farewell event of Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne in Birmingham. One evening when some of the biggest names in rock shared the stage – Guns N' Roses, Aerosmith, Metallica, and others. Draiman was there, on stage, one of them – but also a huge fan who never forgets where he came from.

He admits he's still recovering. "I don't think that there was ever a room assembled with a higher concentration of rock and roll star power in my life," he said. For Draiman, Ozzy and Black Sabbath aren't just legends – they're his teachers. "They're the godfathers of heavy metal. I'm fortunate and blessed enough to be able to call the Osborne family our friends. They were very instrumental in the development of Disturbed and our growth, and in our discovery."

He describes the evening as a once-in-a-lifetime event where all the biggest rock stars became fans again. "We were terrified, every single one of us. Whether it was somebody like Steven Tyler, or the Metallica guys, everybody was intimidated. I still have to pinch myself. Here I am with the guys in the room whose records I was first looking at for the first time when I was 10-years-old."

Video: The lead vocalist of Disturbed, David Draiman, in an exclusive interview with Israel Hayom. Credit: Jonathan Duschnitzky, Gil Kremer

But this evening wasn't just a glittering celebration behind the scenes. It also became the talk of the day because of some boos heard from the audience while he was on stage. Draiman doesn't dodge the question, but puts things in perspective. "I was expecting something," he said. "It caught me off guard, but it was for a minute, and so I didn't really pay all that much attention to it. Because by the time I was one stanza into the first song, the whole crowd was with me, clapping and pumping fists."

What really bothered him was how this story took on a life of its own in the media. "This perversion of reality for the sake of the narrative is just pathetic, to be perfectly honest," he said. "It deserved to be about Ozzy, it deserved to be about Sabbath."

But Draiman isn't naive and isn't blind to the hatred circulating in the world. He's not afraid to call it by name. "They [think] they're fighting for justice but they're fighting for the devil. The greatest trick the devil ever played was to convince the world he doesn't actually exist, but he does. And he's manifesting himself all over the place these days." Still, he's careful to say the haters were few. "They were there, but not in the numbers that they would try to convince you of. That's the stupidity of the whole thing. We made an elephant out of it."

He also says many colleagues know exactly where he stands politically. "They do," he says seriously, but refuses to name names. "I won't betray their trust by naming them because they may not want, nor do they deserve, the backlash that is going to come with it. But I can tell you with an open heart and in all honesty, that there has been a shockingly strong outpouring of support." Then he draws the clear lines of his identity: "This [Star of David] is more than something I wear around my neck. It's who I am. I'm not afraid of it. I don't cower, I don't back down, and I never will. They count on us to be Jews with trembling knees; I won't give them that."

He takes care to mention again the large Star of David he wears on stage. "There certainly is no shortage of crosses at a Black Sabbath show. There might as well be one Magen David that's fine," he smiled.

But then something in him changes. His voice becomes softer, his heart opens wide. He speaks about Yarden Bibas. This isn't just another story; it's a piece of deep pain that connects people who never knew each other before.

Their connection began in the most difficult moments. Someone reached out to him and told him that Yarden wanted to use one of his songs at his family's funeral. Draiman didn't hesitate for a moment. "I was absolutely blown away that it would even be considered for something like that. You know, 'Hold On To Memories', that's precisely the type of thing that was written for. It couldn't possibly gain greater poignancy than through what is probably the greatest tragedy to befall the Jewish people since the Holocaust."

He shared how he followed the story. "I think everyone fell in love with the father he is. I never felt so close to another family's children as if they were my own. I think we were all so glued to our televisions, just watching every moment for a sign of hope that they were still alive. And I felt so connected."

The face-to-face meeting was a moment he'll never forget. "He's just the sweetest, most demure, most genuine human. But you can feel his pain, you can see the darkness in his eyes still. He's just the kind of guy you feel like you want to just give him a big hug. To weather that storm, to have your children, your most precious things in all of existence, murdered at the hands of savages, and to somehow find a way to keep moving forward, it's a crazy thing to even be a part of any part of this story. I'm humbled by the experience."

He stops for a moment and then adds something quiet, almost in a whisper. "You only dream that the therapeutic and cathartic nature of what you've created can do the same for someone else. That's what gives it life beyond your creation."

And he's careful to remind that his support for Israel isn't new. "I've been doing this for 25-30 years. Since the day I started, I've never hidden. Not from one single day, and I never will."

His love for Israel is clear. "I love our people. I love our history. I love our heritage. You have all hell of the world thrown at us, and we just get tougher. It has the absolute opposite effect of what they're trying to achieve."

But he also doesn't sugarcoat the difficulties. "It's been a difficult year. For all of us in the industry who feel the way that I do. And there are many who can't find it in them yet to voice it, maybe. It's very difficult to try and challenge a situation where you have people on the other side of the equation who outnumber us by the billions and who are willing to give up their lives to take yours. That's not how we behave. Jews don't threaten other people. We don't strap on suicide vests and run into crowds. We love life, that culture celebrates death, and we can't play their game. I'm okay with that. I'd rather walk with honor and dignity than turn myself into an animal to battle the animals."

And within all this, he also has personal moments of light. A few months ago he knelt down and proposed on stage. "I love the hell out of her. She's such a gift. She's such a blessing in my absolutely insane world. We have yet to have a single fight in a year and a half of relationship; She's gorgeous, she's got such a lovely soul. So lucky that we found each other."

And finally, he shares something personal. The current visit is dedicated only to his mother who is ill with cancer. He makes a humble, very human request. "If anyone feels like saying Tehillim, or they can make a blessing on my mother's behalf, fighting stage 4 cancer. That's why I'm here in Israel right now. I could use everybody's prayers and everybody's wishes."

And when asked about additional shows in Israel, he doesn't promise anything, but doesn't rule it out either. "Well, Shuki Weiss says we can't come back for a while. He says we need to wait. Airports just recently reopened; we're dealing with a tiny war that we're in the middle of, and this is stage one. I think there's more to come: Iran's not done, Hamas isn't done, the hostages aren't home. The job isn't complete, but I've never been more proud. Crazy what we've been able to accomplish. Shocked the world. We've been underestimated for centuries; will continue to be underestimated. That's fine. It's easier to win that way."

The post 'Humbled by the experience': David Draiman on emotional meeting with Yarden Bibas appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Yarden Bibas, the former Nir Oz hostage whose wife and two children were murdered by Hamas after being taken on Oct. 7, told CBS' "60 Minutes" that President Donald Trump is "the only one who can stop this war again" and bring the remaining hostages home, saying that if it wasn't for the US leader, he would have not been released from captivity.

"He has to convince Benjamin Netanyahu, convince Hamas. I think he can do it," Bibas said on how the 47th president could pressure the Israeli prime minister and the terrorist group.

Bibas spoke to CBS after his release during the most recent ceasefire after more than a year in captivity – his first interview after learning his wife Shiri and sons Ariel and Kfir were killed while in captivity. According to CBS, Bibas chose an American outlet to ensure his message would reach the White House. "Please stop this war and help bring all the hostages back," Bibas urged President Trump in the interview. When asked if Trump could help, he responded: "I know he can help. I'm here only because of him."

Bibas was told by his captors that his family had been "murdered in cold blood, bare hands." He revealed the psychological torture he endured, with his captors repeatedly telling him: "Oh, doesn't matter. You'll get a new wife. Get new kids. Better wife. Better kids."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu resumed bombing in Gaza 12 days ago, after Hamas refused to release more hostages under a ceasefire that CBS reports was "exceedingly popular with Israelis." The ceasefire had allowed two dozen hostages to return home, but 24 others are still believed to be alive in Gaza tunnels, CBS reports. Hamas terrorists captured approximately 251 people during their October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which killed 1,200 civilians and soldiers.

Bibas described the terrifying conditions in the tunnels during Israeli military operations, saying: "It's scary. You don't know when it's gonna happen. And when it happens, you're afraid for your life. The whole earth would move like an earthquake, but underground." He added, "Everything could collapse any moment."

Weighing heavily on Bibas is concern for his best friend David Cunio, who remains in captivity. "This is David. I know him from first grade," Bibas told the news channel, showing a photo. "We did everything together. He was with me in every big thing in my life. He was in my wedding." Cunio was kidnapped alongside his wife Sharon and two children – the family was released while David remains captive. "I lost my wife and kids. Sharon must not lose her husband," Bibas said.

Keith Siegel, an Israeli-American who was also recently freed, told CBS about the brutal treatment he received, especially after his wife Aviva was released in an earlier ceasefire. "The terrorists became very mean, and very cruel, and violent," Siegel said. "They were beating me and starving me." He described being given minimal food while his captors ate in front of him and receiving only monthly "showers" with cold water from a half bucket.

Tal Shoham, who spent 471 days in captivity before his release, met with the parents of Guy Gilboa-Dalal and Evyatar David – friends who remain in captivity after being kidnapped from the Nova Music Festival. Shoham described their desperate conditions to CBS: "Like sometimes the water tastes like blood, sometimes like iron. Sometimes it was so salty that you could not drink it, but you don't have anything else."

According to CBS, the released hostages have been participating in protests and vigils instead of quietly recovering from their ordeal. "It is, every day, most of the day," Siegel told "60 Minutes" when asked if his mind was still with those left behind.

The post 'I'm here only because of Trump,' former hostage says on president's unique role appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Yarden Bibas delivered a heartbreaking eulogy for his wife and children on Wednesday, more than a year after they had been captured and then murdered by Hamas and days after their bodies were returned.

"Shiri, stay by my side, watch over me so I don't sink into darkness," said over their coffins in the southern town of Tzohar. The lone survivor of his immediate family from the Oct. 7 massacre in Kibbutz Nir Oz, Bibas shared intimate memories of his relationship with his wife Shiri, recalling their early courtship.

"I remember the first time I said 'my love' to you. It was at the very beginning of our relationship. You told me to only call you that if I knew for certain that I loved you, not to say it casually. So I didn't say it because I didn't want you to think I was rushing to say 'I love you.' Shiri, I'll reveal to you that I loved you even then when I said that," he said crying.

"Ariel, I hope you're not angry at me that I couldn't protect you properly and that I wasn't there for you. I hope you know that I thought about you every day and every minute. I hope you're enjoying heaven, and I'm sure you're making all the angels laugh," Yarden wept. To Ariel's younger son Kfir, he said: "I didn't think our family could be more perfect, and then you came and made it even more perfect. I remember your birth. I remember that after Shiri had gone into labor, the midwife suddenly stopped everything, and we got scared, afraid that something had happened, but it was only to tell us that we had another redhead. Mom and I laughed and were happy."

The emotional farewell came during Wednesday's all-but-official national day of mourning as thousands of Israelis lined the streets to pay their respects to Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas. The mother and two young children from Nir Oz were murdered while in Hamas captivity, with their bodies returned several days ago as part of the hostage deal.

The funeral procession began at 7:45 a.m. from the Chevra Kadisha complex in Rishon Lezion, traveling through multiple junctions before reaching its final destination in Tzohar, southern Israel. Along the route, masses gathered, many visibly emotional as the three coffins passed by.

Video: Thousands line up in Israel to bid farewell to murdered members of the Bibas family

"We have begun this funeral journey accompanied by masses of the people of Israel," the Bibas family stated. "We see and hear you all, and are moved and strengthened by your presence."

Yarden Bibas's full eulogy:

"Mi Amor"

I remember the first time I said "mi amor" to you. It was at the very beginning of our relationship. You told me to only call you that if I was certain I loved you, not to say it carelessly. I didn't say it then because I didn't want you to… pic.twitter.com/SD6RvT8gKr

— Aviva Klompas (@AvivaKlompas) February 26, 2025

Yarden Bibas, who was recently released after more than a year in captivity, watched solemnly as the nation mourned his family. Images showed him making a heart gesture toward the crowds who had come to honor his wife and children.

 

The brutal kidnapping of the family was captured on video on October 7, 2023, horrifying viewers worldwide and making the red-headed Kfir and Ariel a rallying cry against Hamas. While the family requested a private burial ceremony for invited guests only, eulogies were broadcast to the general public.

"The protective mother stood in contrast to the barbarity of the terrorists," said a kibbutz member during one of the eulogies delivered over the coffins.

The post Yarden Bibas brings nation to tears in emotional eulogy to wife, kids appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.