Israelis anxiously await to learn the fate of Bibas family amid hostage release, ceasefire deal with Hamas

With the ceasefire and hostage release deal hanging in the balance, the world is holding its breath to learn the fate of the Bibas children, their mother Shiri, and father Yarden, who were abducted by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7, 2023, during the brutal attack at Israel’s southern border.

The Bibas family quickly became a symbol of the unthinkable cruelty committed by the terrorists when 1,200 civilians were brutally murdered, and 251 more taken captive. The family’s relatives have tirelessly advocated in public and behind the scenes with Israeli and U.S. officials over the past 15 months in an effort to return their loved ones to Israel. Others have also stepped up to advocate and petition for the Bibas family to be released.

Eli Bibas, Yarden’s father and grandfather to the Bibas boys, spoke at a Tel Aviv rally on Tuesday night, saying, “The nightmare that became our reality in the past year must end.”

Baby Kfir will turn 2 on Saturday and Ariel has turned 5 while in captivity. 

As part of the first phase of the current deal to release 33 women, children, elderly and the sick, Ariel and Kfir Bibas, the only children who are left in captivity, are expected to be released along with their parents Shiri and Yarden Bibas. Shiri and her children were supposed to have been released as part of the previous ceasefire deal in November, but Hamas did not honor that agreement.

Hamas released a statement at that time saying Shiri and the children had been killed, however, Israel said it had not been confirmed, and could have been part of the psychological warfare the terror group uses against the Israeli public.

In November 2023 after the initial hostage release, Hamas released a video showing Yarden Bibas, who had been abducted separately and who had been told his family was dead. Later, in February, the IDF found more footage from surveillance cameras in Khan Younis of Shiri and her children on the day of their abduction. 

The families of the hostages and people everywhere are watching with hope in their hearts for the Bibas family and for all the remaining hostages to be returned to their loved ones. However, the Bibas family is cautioning against speculation about their release, as well as their condition.

Of the remaining 94 people held in captivity, only about 60 are believed to be alive.

The only video footage of the Bibas children since the day of their abduction has been of them and Shiri being taken away by the terrorists, Shiri showing visible signs of distress and fear on her face.

As the hostage deal was finalized on Wednesday, the family said they were “aware of the reports” noting that all members of their family are included in the first stage of the agreement, and “that Shiri and the children are among the first to be released,” but added, “We have gained enough experience and disappointments and therefore there is no end to the story until our loved ones cross the border.”

“We are waiting for certainty about their release and their conditions and are asking that no one reach out to us in this sensitive time,” they went on. “We are asking not to lend a hand to spreading rumors. We address the prime minister and continue the demand to release them all, until the final hostage.”

Under the terms of the deal, the Bibas family, if alive, will be released with the other elderly, women and frail hostages over the first 42 days of the agreement.

If the ceasefire stands, Israel and Hamas would begin negotiating toward the release of the other 65 hostages: younger men, half of whom are expected to be alive.