In a devastating announcement, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed on Thursday the deaths of 4-year-old Ariel Bibas and his 10-month-old brother, Kfir Bibas, who were brutally murdered by Hamas terrorists while in captivity. The tragic news was revealed following a meticulous identification process by the National Institute of Forensic Medicine and the Israel Police.
The Bibas family from the kibbutz of Nir Oz had been holding onto hope since their abduction on October 7, 2023. According to the IDF, the boys were taken hostage along with their mother, Shiri Bibas, while their father, Yarden Bibas, was abducted separately in his attempt to protect his family. Yarden was released on February 1, 2025, as part of a hostage exchange agreement, but the fate of his wife and children remained unknown until now.
Forensic examination revealed that Ariel and Kfir were killed in November 2023, just weeks after their abduction. The IDF described their deaths as a “brutal murder” at the hands of Hamas terrorists. The identification process confirmed that an additional body was not Shiri Bibas, leaving her whereabouts unknown.
“This is a violation of utmost severity by the Hamas terrorist organization,” the IDF stated in a social media post on Platform X. “Hamas is obligated under the agreement to return four deceased hostages. We demand that Hamas return Shiri home along with all our hostages.”
The Bibas family’s ordeal has become a symbol of the ongoing hostage crisis, with the image of Shiri clutching her two young sons during their abduction seared into the collective memory of the nation. The confirmation of the boys’ deaths has sparked outrage and grief across Israel and around the world.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his condolences to the Bibas family, calling the deaths “an unspeakable tragedy.” He vowed to continue efforts to bring all remaining hostages home, stating, “We will not rest until every hostage is returned to their loved ones.”
The Bibas family released a statement thanking the public for their support and pleading for the safe return of Shiri. “Our hearts are shattered, but we will not lose hope. We urge the world to remember Ariel and Kfir and to help bring Shiri home,” the statement read.
As the nation mourns the loss of Ariel and Kfir, the IDF reiterated its commitment to locating and returning all hostages still held by Hamas. The tragic case of the Bibas family underscores the human cost of the ongoing conflict and the urgent need for resolution.
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