Yarden, Shiri, Ariel and Kfir were abducted on 7 October 2023, when Palestinian militants attacked Nir Oz, Shiri's parents, who also lived on the kibbutz, were later found killed.[7] Israel expressed concern that they had been transferred the family to a different armed group within Gaza, the Mujahideen Brigades of the Palestinian Mujahideen Movement.[8] On 19 February 2024, the IDF presented a video showing Shiri and the children while they were still alive several days after the abduction. The video was apparently filmed in southern Gaza.[9] In late 2023, Hamas stated that Shiri, Ariel and Kfir had been killed during the Israeli bombardment of Gaza. Israel has not confirmed their deaths, but has expressed "grave" concerns about their status.[10][11] Yarden Bibas was released on 1 February 2025,[12] while the rest of the Bibas family is slated to be released during the first phase on the 2025 hostage deal.[13][14][15]
Abduction
Bibas family home after the kidnapping
Reportedly, prior to the attack the family had been debating leaving the kibbutz and looking to move to the Golan Heights, as they were tired of the constant fear and the proximity to Gaza and the rockets.[16]
On the day of the attack, Yarden Bibas was reportedly texting with his sister to update her on the status of fighting at and around the Nir Oz Kibbutz.[17] At around 6:30 am, he sent her an update which included 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.[16] 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.[18]
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.[16][19]
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.[20][19][21]
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[22] but they had consistently refused to name any other group, saying only "another group".[23] After Yarden Bibas's released the group was identified as the Kataib Mujahadin.[24]
In September 2024, a freed hostage claimed to have seen Yarden Bibas and Ofer Kalderon, both hostages from the Nir Or kibbutz in cages while she was in a tunnel under the Gaza Strip. The women stated that she was able to speak with both men during her time there, and the men were released from the cages hours at a time to speak with her.[25]
When Yarden Bibas was released, he had lost 15 kilograms (33lb). He reportedly told Israeli authorities that he was starved, with some days not given any food. Most of the time he 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.[26]
Having offered himself to be taken by Hamas in order to spare his family, Yarden did not know the fate of his family. He repeatedly asked his captors about his family. In one instance his captors lied to him, saying that his family survived 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 had him criticize Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu.[26][27]
Efforts to release
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.[28][29] On October 9, Hamas offered to release all civilian hostages in exchange for Israeli army not entering Gaza, but the Israeli government rejected the offer.[30] 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.[31] 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."[32]
On 22 November 2023, Israel agreed to release 150 Palestinian women and children, in exchange for Hamas agreeing to release 50 Israeli women and children.[33] 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.[34] On 1 December, Israel considered it a violation of the framework that they were not released.[35] Israel said that Hamas' claims were not verified, and warned they could be part of their psychological warfare.[22][36][23] After the brothers were not freed during the temporary ceasefire, their relatives launched a campaign demanding their release.[19]
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.[3] 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.[37]
Around Kfir Bibas' 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.[38] Kfir's picture was also seen next to Israeli President Isaac Herzog while he spoke at the World Economic Forum that same week.[39] On 19 February, the Israeli military released a video which purportedly showed members of the Bibas family in the Khan Younis area.[40]
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.[41]
A protestor recreating the still image from the bodycam video of the kidnapping. The handwritten text on the cardboard reads "Where are Shiri, Yarden, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas?
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' 5th birthday - August 2024
Release of orange (the color of Ariel and Kfir's hair) balloons from Hostages Square
Release of Yarden Bibas
In January 2025, during the 2025 Gaza war ceasefire and prisoner exchange, before it was announced that Yarden Bibas would be included in the exchange, a group supporting the family asked for the public to wear orange in honor of the family.[42] Israeli officials had asked that Hamas provide more information on the condition of Shiri Bibas and the two children on January 29.[43]
On 31 January, Hamas announced that they were going to release Yarden Bibas on February 1, 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.[44] At the time of the ceasefire and prior release of other hostages, the Bibas children were the only Israeli children still held, while Shiri is the only Israeli woman still held.[45]
After Yarden was released, the Bibas family issued a statement that "a quarter of our heart has returned.....but the home remains incomplete".[46] 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.[47]
↑ Translation of the text on the display: "Freedom, as I believe, is the main purpose of life" --Menachem Begin from a speech named "Freedom" (also the name of his political party) at a large public gathering on August 27, 1950
↑ The text under the painting is the same quote by Menachem Begin as in the photo to the left.
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A protestor recreating the still image from the bodycam video of the kidnapping. The handwritten text on the cardboard reads "Where are Shiri, Yarden, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas?
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' 5th birthday - August 2024
Release of orange (the color of Ariel and Kfir's hair) balloons from Hostages Square
