Hamas took four Israeli women hostage on Saturday, the second exchange under a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza. As the world watched, soldiers in military uniforms were handed over to Red Cross members. As the fragile ceasefire holds in Gaza, the fate of the Bibas family and the youngest Hamas hostage is unknown.
Shiri Bibas, her two sons, Ariel (5) and Kfir (2), and her husband, Yarden, were among those abducted by the group on October 7, 2023. Baby Kefir, the youngest hostage, was just 8 months old. Time.
The Bibas family’s hopes were dashed when their names were missing from the list of hostages who were freed in the latest phase of a multi-phase ceasefire deal. In a statement, the family shared their grief. “Yesterday at 16:00, when the set list for release was published, our world collapsed,” the statement read, according to The Times of Israel. Even though we were prepared for this possibility, we had expected to see Shiri and the children on the list that was supposed to be for civilian women. ,
While Israeli officials insist on the return of KFIR and Ariel, Hamas claims that Shiri and his two sons are no longer alive. Israeli officials have not confirmed this, and the uncertainty has left the family worried.
An analyst said ABC News Whether they are alive depends on who is asked about it. Should he be confirmed dead, it is likely to elicit rage and sadness in Israel, where the family has become a symbol of the country’s darkest moment.
According to an AFP report, Israeli Defense Forces spokesman Daniel Hagari expressed “deep concern” over the well-being of the two remaining child hostages from the Bibas family in Gaza. In a statement on Saturday, Hagari said Israel insists on the return of KFIR and Ariel Bibas. Hagri said, “We are deeply concerned for his fate,” and also mentioned his mother, whose death was announced by Hamas more than a year ago but has not been confirmed by Israeli officials.
In the meantime, the family’s petition remains steadfast – “Shiri, Yarden, Ariel and KFIR – we will continue to hope and demand your return. It’s not over until it’s over,” he said in the statement.
A three-phase ceasefire deal is currently in its first phase, as part of which 33 of the 98 remaining hostages – women, children, over-men, sick and wounded – will be released in exchange for approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. Will happen.
In the first phase, Israeli forces would also withdraw from Gaza and allow the displaced population to “return to their residences”, the Qatari prime minister said earlier. The first phase will last for six weeks.
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