Mourning the Loss of Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas: A Family Forever Remembered

The Bibas family, tragically torn apart by the horrific events of October 7, was laid to rest today in the Tzohar cemetery. Shiri Bibas, along with her two young children, Ariel and Kfir, were murdered by terrorists during their captivity. The funeral, held privately at the family's request, marked a heartbreaking chapter in the ongoing tragedy of hostages taken by Hamas.

Yarden Bibas, the surviving father, delivered an emotional farewell during the funeral. "Mi Amor, I remember the first time I called you Mi Amor," he shared, mourning the loss of his beloved wife. He continued to honor his children’s memory, speaking directly to them. “Ariel, you are a superhero,” he said, reflecting on his son’s innocent dreams of saving others. To his youngest son, Kfir, Yarden spoke with deep love, remembering his joyful birth and the precious moments they shared.

The tragedy has touched not only their family but the entire nation, with the Bibas family becoming symbols of the devastating impact of terrorism on innocent lives.

The Symbol of Parental Love and Innocence

A representative from Kibbutz Tze’elim, where the Bibas family was from, paid tribute to Shiri’s maternal instinct, describing her as shielding her children in her final moments. “The image of her embracing her two little ones in her final moments will forever be etched in our hearts,” the representative said. Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir’s untimely deaths represent both the loss of innocence and the horrific realities of the violence inflicted by Hamas.

The funeral procession saw crowds of mourners lining the streets of Rishon Lezion, holding Israeli flags and orange balloons — a symbol of the Bibas family’s children, known for their iconic red hair. Despite the family’s request for privacy, the public’s display of respect and solidarity was deeply moving. Yarden expressed his gratitude for the support, saying, “We see and hear you; we are moved and strengthened by you.”

A Nation Mourns

In a poignant act of remembrance, the Knesset opened its plenary session with a minute of silence, and the President's Residence in Jerusalem was illuminated in orange in honor of the Bibas family. The President's Office issued a statement, saying, "Today, after 509 days, Shiri and her young children are finally being laid to rest with dignity in Israel." The statement went on to express the nation’s collective grief, acknowledging that despite the prayers for a different outcome, Israel remains wounded but resolute in its hope for the return of all hostages.

The Bibas Family’s Captivity and Tragic End

On October 7, 2023, Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir were abducted by Hamas during their attack on Kibbutz Nir Oz. The children were the youngest hostages taken, with Kfir just nine months old and Ariel only four. Tragically, both children were killed while in captivity, and their mother, Shiri, was murdered alongside them. Their father, Yarden, was also taken hostage but was released on February 1, 2025, as part of a ceasefire agreement.

The return of Shiri’s body from Gaza, after an initial mix-up with a different body, marked a painful moment of closure for the Bibas family. As the community continues to grieve, the family’s loss is felt deeply, not just as a personal tragedy, but as a stark reminder of the ongoing hostilities.

In the midst of this heartbreaking loss, Yarden Bibas’s sister, Ofri, expressed a somber reflection: “We will not rise and we will not recover until the last of the hostages are home.” Her words echo the sentiment of many in Israel, where the grief over the Bibas family’s death is intertwined with a collective determination for the safe return of all hostages.