Former Israeli hostage Yarden Bibas was reunited with his father and sister in a poignant moment following his release from captivity. The emotional reunion took place after Bibas was kidnapped by Hamas from kibbutz Nir Oz along with his wife and two young sons, Kfir and Ariel, on October 7, 2023.
While Bibas was released on Saturday morning, his wife and children were not among those freed during a temporary truce in late November 2023. Hamas claimed that they were killed in an Israeli airstrike, though Israel has not confirmed their deaths. The military has informed the family that there is uncertainty about their fate.
Veteran Israeli hostage negotiator Gershon Baskin expressed that Bibas is returning home with the heartbreaking realization that his wife and children may not be alive. The Bibas family, especially young Kfir, became symbols of the tragic events that unfolded on October 7.
Kfir, the youngest captive at just nine months old when he was taken, has been featured on posters advocating for the release of the hostages. His image, holding a pink elephant toy with a toothless smile, has been a poignant reminder of the family's ordeal.
