During the Nir Oz attack, part of the 7 October 2023 attacks that began the Gaza war, Palestinian militants kidnapped the Bibas (Hebrew: בִּיבָּס) family from their home at the Nir Ozkibbutz in southern Israel.[3][4] The family, which held multiple citizenship of Israel, Argentina, and Germany,[5] comprised 34-year-old Yemenite JewYarden (Hebrew: יַרְדֵּן), his 32-year-old wife Shiri (Hebrew: שִׁירִי; née Silberman), their 4-year-old son Ariel (Hebrew: אֲרִיאֵל), and their 9-month-old son Kfir (Hebrew: כְּפִיר).[6][7][8] All four family members were held hostage in the Gaza Strip, although Yarden Bibas was held by Hamas, while Shiri Bibas and her children were held separately by another militant group known as "Lords of the Desert".[9] Ariel and Kfir Bibas, the two youngest hostages taken from Israel on 7 October, came to be regarded as symbols of the Gaza war hostage crisis.[10]
Shiri Bibas's parents, José Luis (Yossi) Silberman and Margit Shnaider Silberman, were both killed in the Nir Oz attack.[11] In late 2023, Hamas said that Shiri Bibas and her children had been killed by the Israeli bombardment of Gaza. On 30 November 2023—the last day of the 2023 Gaza war ceasefire—it offered to return their bodies and release Yarden Bibas, but Israel refused, demanding that all living female hostages be released first.[12][13] Israel did not confirm the deaths of Shiri Bibas and her sons, but expressed grave concerns over their welfare.[14][15] As part of the 2025 Gaza war ceasefire, Hamas released Yarden Bibas alive on 1 February 2025.[16] On 20 February, it handed over coffins that it said contained the bodies of his wife and sons.[17][18] Israel verified the remains of Ariel and Kfir Bibas through DNA testing, but stated that the female remains handed over were of an unidentified Palestinian woman, not Shiri Bibas.[19] Israeli authorities accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire agreement and demanded that it return the correct body.[20][21] Hamas handed over another body on the evening of 21 February,[22] which subsequent DNA testing confirmed as that of Shiri Bibas.[19] The funeral of Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas took place on 26 February; their remains were buried alongside those of Shiri Bibas's parents in Tsoher Regional Cemetery, near their former home.[23][24][25] Argentina held two days of national mourning.[26]
Hamas and Israel have made conflicting statements about the cause of death for Shiri Bibas and her children. Hamas said that they were killed in an Israeli airstrike in November 2023.[11] The Israeli government denied that they were killed in an airstrike and instead alleged Hamas of killing the family, based on supposed forensic examinations. Israel said it shared evidence with international partners.[27][20][28] Hamas accused Israel of fabricating "baseless lies".[11]
Bibas family home after the kidnappingAn injured Yarden Bibas being taken against his will inside the Gaza Strip with a crowd cheering the abduction – 7 October 2023
Prior to the attack the family had considered moving to the Golan Heights because they were tired of living in constant fear due to their proximity to Gaza and associated rocket attacks.[29]
On the day of the attack, Yarden Bibas texted his sister to update her on the fighting at and around the Nir Oz Kibbutz.[30] At around 6:30 am, he sent her a message mentioning rocket fire, and then that the militants had entered the kibbutz with concern that his children did not know how to keep quiet. By about 9:45, he sent "They're in" shortly after having sent "I love you" to his family.[29] Yarden had reportedly first believed that the rocket fire was "just another bombing" and had hesitated to use the gun in the home due to the number of militants with automatic weapons.[31]
At some point during the attack Yarden Bibas left the family's safe room, reportedly to distract the militants and attempt to save his wife and children. Yarden was then captured separately from the rest of his family.[32]
Multiple pieces of media of the family were circulated online, such as a video of Shiri holding her redheaded children in her arms, with a look of terror on her face as she was surrounded by militants. Multiple pictures found later showed Yarden, on the day of the attack, bleeding from the head, and being herded away by gunmen.[29][33]
Shiri's father José Luis (Yossi) Silberman, and his wife, Margit Shnaider Silberman, were also presumed to be missing from the kibbutz. Margit Shnaider Silberman moved to Israel from Peru in the 1970s. José Luis (Yossi) Silberman was originally from Argentina, both Silbermans were in their 60s. The Silbermans were later found dead and officially identified as deceased on 21 October.[34][33][35] Shiri and her two children were said to have had dual Israeli-German citizenships.[36]
Israel said the family was kidnapped by a Palestinian group, a crime gang from Khan Younis, called "Lords of the desert".[9][37] Israel expressed concern that Shiri and the children had been transferred to a different armed group within Gaza, the Mujahideen Brigades of the Palestinian Mujahideen Movement.[38]
In February 2025, Israel said that forensic evidence showed that Ariel and Kfir were "brutally murdered" with “bare hands”, and estimated the time of death as November 2023.[40][43] Neither Israel nor Hamas have publicly released any evidence to substantiate their respective claims;[44][45][46] and The Guardian adds that Israel's claims have also not been independently verified.[47] The Bibas family sent a cease-and-desist letter to Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other government officials, demanding that they stop publishing details of Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas's deaths.[48]
In captivity
IDF chief spokesperson said, regarding the family's location, that the IDF did not believe the boys and their mother were in the hands of Hamas[40] but they had consistently refused to name any other group, saying only "another group".[42] After Yarden Bibas's release the group was identified as the Kataib Mujahadin.[49]
In September 2024, a freed hostage claimed to have seen Yarden Bibas and Ofer Kalderon in cages while she was in a tunnel under the Gaza Strip, and was able to speak with them.[50]
When Yarden Bibas was released, he had lost 15 kilograms (33lb). He told Israeli authorities he had been starved and not given any food on some days. Critics of Israel explained his weight loss by blaming Israel's blockade of humanitarian supplies into Gaza and the Gaza Strip famine.[51][52] According to one released former hostage, she was forced to watch her captors eat while she was deprived food and water.[53]
Most of the time Yarden was held in isolation in an underground cell, rarely seeing sunlight. He was allowed to meet other hostages only during meals. He requested to be held with an old friend that he came across during his time in captivity, but his request was denied. He also reportedly said that he was dressed in a galabeya.[32]
Yarden Bibas reportedly asked his captors on numerous occasions about his family. In one instance his captors told Bibas that his family had evaded capture and were spotted in Tel Aviv. In another case, his captors demanded a female hostage tell him that his family died. After the female hostage refused, the captors demanded a male hostage tell him that his family died. Hamas filmed Yarden breaking down upon hearing the fate of his family, and criticizing Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu.[32][54]
Efforts to release
Israelis taking the cause of the Bibas family
A protestor in front of the private residence of Israeli PresidentIsaac Herzog recreating the still image from the bodycam video.[a] – August 2024
Israeli President Isaac Herzog displaying a picture of Kfir Bibas on his birthday during the World Economic Forum – January 2024
A march commemorating Ariel Bibas's 5th birthday – August 2024
Release of orange balloons (to symbolize the color of the children's hair) from Hostages Square – December 2023
On 7 October 2023, the deputy chief of Hamas, Saleh al-Arouri, said that Palestinians had abducted Israelis so they could force Israel to release thousands of Palestinians (including 200 women and children) in Israeli custody.[55][56] On 9 October, Hamas offered to release all civilian hostages in exchange for Israeli army not entering Gaza, but the Israeli government rejected the offer.[57] On 17 October 2023, a Hamas official said it would release all civilian (but not military) hostages in exchange for Israel ending the bombing of the Gaza Strip.[58] On 19 October, Human Rights Watch criticized Hamas for conditioning the release of Israelis upon Israel's release of Palestinians, arguing "civilians, including children... should never be treated as bargaining chips."[59]
On 22 November 2023, Israel agreed to release 150 Palestinian women and children held in Israeli prisons, in exchange for Hamas agreeing to release 50 Israeli women and children.[60] Shiri and her children were expected to be released, but were not released. On 29 November, Hamas' armed wing, the Al Qassam Brigades, said Shiri and her children had been killed in Israeli bombing of Gaza.[39] On 1 December, Israel considered it a violation of the framework that they were not released.[61] After the brothers were not freed during the temporary ceasefire, their relatives launched a campaign demanding their release.[33]
On 1 December 2023, Hamas offered to release Yarden along with the bodies of Shiri, Kfir and Ariel. Israel did not respond to the offer, stating it "will not address propaganda-based reports coming from Hamas".[13] This offer was also confirmed by Israeli officials and Arab diplomats.[12] Israel refused, demanding that living female hostages be returned before the dead bodies.[12] On the same day, Hamas also clarified that Shiri, Kfir and Ariel had been killed by Israeli airstrikes before the truce went into effect.[13] The IDF responded that "Hamas is wholly responsible for the security of all hostages".[13]
A cousin of the Bibas family raised a request to speak with US President Joe Biden, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Qatar's Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, to petition them to help in the release of the family. He also mentioned that they were working with the Argentinian government to help petition for the release of the family.[62] In early December 2023 per Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, all Israeli embassies and consulates either lit their buildings in orange or displayed images of the family. The display was supposed to coincide with the first lighting of Hanukkah candles.[63]
Around Kfir Bibas's first birthday in January 2024, family members celebrated his (18 January) birthday and raised awareness for the family still reportedly held as hostages. Hundreds of people gathered at the Hostages Square in Tel Aviv to celebrate Kfir and his family with a performance by Israeli children's music stars and wore orange to symbolize the two children's hair.[64] Kfir's picture was also seen next to Israeli President Isaac Herzog while he spoke at the World Economic Forum that same week.[65] On 19 February, the Israeli military released a video which purportedly showed members of the Bibas family in the Khan Younis area.[66]
In August 2024, during the Redhead Days Festival in Tilburg, Netherlands, which is known for celebrating people with auburn hair, members of the Bibas family urged participants to spotlight the Bibas children and to raise awareness about their continued time as hostages.[67]
Release and return of bodies
On 28 January 2025, prior to the announcement of Yarden Bibas's 1 February release, a group supporting the family asked for the public to wear orange in honor of the family.[68] Israeli officials asked on 29 January that Hamas provide more information on the condition of Shiri Bibas and the two children.[69]
Release of Yarden Bibas
Yarden Bibas on the helicopter after being released by Hamas from captivity in Gaza – February 2025
On 31 January, Hamas announced that they were going to release Yarden Bibas on 1 February, as part of the fourth round of releases of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement. The status of Yarden Bibas's family, Shiri, Ariel and Kfir was not clear at the time of his release and they were not included in earlier releases which were supposed to prioritize living women and children.[70]
Return of the bodies of Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir
On 18 February, a Hamas spokesperson announced that the bodies of four hostages, including the remaining members of the Bibas family, will be released on 20 February, as part of the seventh round of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement.[71]
On 20 February, Hamas released four bodies: purportedly of Ariel, Kfir, Shiri, and a fourth hostage, Oded Lifshitz, who had also been kidnapped during the Nir Oz attack.[43][72][21] The four bodies were taken to the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute for identification.[73] While Israel was able to forensically confirm the bodies of Ariel, Kfir, and Lifshitz, the fourth body did not belong to Shiri, nor any other Israeli hostage held by Hamas.[43] Hamas acknowledged the possibility of a mistake, adding that corpses had "mixed up" due to Israeli bombings.[44] Shiri Bibas's remains were later handed over separately.[27]
The handover was performed as a two-step process, with the first step being a handover of coffins from Hamas to the Red Cross, with the handover from the Red Cross to the IDF performed in a second step. In the first step, the four coffins were brought to a stage in Khan Yunis wrapped in black with labels bearing the deceased names and pictures, and placed in front of a poster bearing the image of Netanyahu as a vampire with the four deceased superimposed. The poster blamed Netanyahu and Israel for their deaths, and denounced Israel with spent Israeli munitions displayed on the stage near the coffins. In the second step, a rabbi conducted a ceremony upon receipt of the coffins and they were transported into Israel draped in Israeli flags. Israeli citizens lined the roads near the Gaza border to watch the convoy and pay their respects, as well as gathering in Hostages Square.[74][75]
The coffins were provided to Israel locked, without keys.[76] Upon opening the coffins, investigators reportedly discovered Hamas propaganda, which Israel considered "a desecration of the sanctity of the dead". Israel therefore filed a complaint with Egypt, Qatar and the United States who helped negotiate the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.[77]
Netanyahu accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement by returning a body purportedly of Shiri Bibas which was found to not belong to Shiri Bibas.[78][79] Hamas acknowledged "seriousness and full commitment to all our obligations" and said it remained committed to compliance.[79] It also asked Israel to return the body of the Palestinian woman that was in the coffin marked as Shiri Bibas.[80][81]
The Bibas children were the last Israeli children held by Hamas, and Shiri was the last Israeli woman held by Hamas whom Israel had not confirmed her death.[c][82]
The funeral of Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas took place on 26 February 2025. Thousands of Israelis lined the route of the funeral procession. Eulogies were broadcast on Israeli television and streamed over the Internet.[24][25] In a private ceremony, they were buried alongside Shiri Bibas's parents in Tsoher Regional Cemetery, near their former home in Nir Oz kibbutz. Shiri Bibas and her two children were all buried in the same casket.[23][83]
[W]e are appalled and horrified by their [Hamas's] desecration of the remains of Shiri Bibas. This is a gruesome scene, and we join the people of Israel in mourning the loss of several members of the Bibas family. Kfir was not even a year old when he was taken, along with his four-year old brother Ariel. They were cruelly murdered by Hamas.
After Yarden was released, the Bibas family issued a statement that "a quarter of our heart has returned... but the home remains incomplete".[87] His family also thanked the Israeli public for its support and concern, and that while he had lost a significant amount of weight he was in good spirits and physically stable.[88]
Following the release of the bodies of Ariel and Kfir, Israeli president Isaac Herzog issued a statement saying that the "hearts of an entire nation line in tatters" and spoke directly to the deceased stating that he bowed his head and asked for forgiveness in not protecting them or bringing them home safe.[74]
Argentine President Javier Milei declared two days of national mourning beginning on 20 February following the return of the bodies, as the Bibas children held Argentine citizenship. Sabrina Ajmechet, President of the Argentinian Commission for Human Rights, wrote: "Two Argentinian babies assassinated because of Hamas terrorism. I hope that never again, after this, I have to hear that what happens in Israel and Gaza is not our concern, of all Argentines".[89][90]
Buenos Aires councilmember Yamil Santoro proposed to rename "Palestine Street" to "Bibas Family Street". President Milei expressed support for the proposal, but others suggested to rename a park, rather than Palestine Street, as a tribute to the Bibas Family.[91]
The Arab-Israeli group Atidna condemned Hamas following the murders of Shiri Bibas and her two children, describing the crime as "an act of barbarism that has no justification". The group called on Arab Israeli political leaders to denounce terrorism, emphasizing, "At such a crucial moment, silence is not an option—our duty as leaders and as a society is to speak out clearly and firmly against murder and terror", and it declared its participation in the Bibas family funeral procession by stating, "We will declare in one united voice: No to terror, no to murder, yes to life and humanity".[92]
Sculpture in Ashdod lit up in orange'"`UNIQ--ref-000000D6-QINU`"' – January 2024, intended to coincide with what would have been Kfir's first birthday.
Beit HaNassi being lit up in orange, February 26, 2025, the day of Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir's funeral.
↑ The text on the cardboard reads "Where are Shiri, Yarden, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas?"
↑ Translation of message on whiteboard: "I thank all the People of Israel for their support and help. I heard from my family that you fought for me, and want to say many thanks. I deeply appreciate it. It's not self-evident. Happy birthday, Grandpa!"
↑ The bodies of three other women were still held by Hamas at the time that Shiri's body was returned to Israel: Judith Weinstein, Ofra Keidar, and Inbar Hayman. Israel had declared that Weinstein and Keidar died on the day of their abduction, with Hayman having died in captivity.'"`UNIQ--ref-000000B6-QINU`"'
↑ Harel, Amos (23 February 2025). "As Netanyahu Considers Escalating the Gaza Cease-fire Crisis, Israeli…". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 23 February 2025. Retrieved 25 February 2025. The three members of the Bibas family were kidnapped by a crime gang from the Khan Yunis area, which hid under an ostensibly operational name, Lords of the Desert. The link between Hamas and this group is not hierarchical or binding. The [handing over the wrong body] could have been a result of chaos, or of deliberate deception by the group. As soon as it was discovered, Hamas hurried to return the mother's body the next morning... The findings of the Abu Kabir Institute of Forensic Medicine only intensify the horror: the kidnappers murdered the children with their bare hands.
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A sculpture recreation of the still photo taken from the body cam of one of the kidnappers during the kidnapping
Shiri holding her two children on a display by the World Zionist Organization at Hostage Square.'"`UNIQ--ref-000000D0-QINU`"'
Kfir Bibas behind bars'"`UNIQ--ref-000000D1-QINU`"'
A table at a coffee shop at Habima Square set as reserved for the Bibas family
