The bodies of Shiri Bibas and her sons, Ariel, 5, and Kfir, 2, as well as Oded Lifshitz, will be returned to Israel on Thursday after 503 days in captivity, Hamas told Israel, causing devastation globally as the red-haired children were a symbol of hope for 16 months.
Celebrating the release of Yarden Bibas just two weeks ago, people around the world remained hopeful that the rest of the family, including the youngest children taken hostage by Hamas on Oct. 7, would have a similar fate.
In Bibas’ first official statement since his release from Hamas captivity, he addressed Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, demanding he bring home his family.
“Netanyahu, I’m now addressing you with my own words, which no one dictated to me: Bring my family back,” Bibas said. “Bring my friends back. Bring everyone home.”
Just four days after this statement, Hamas announced Tuesday that the Bibas family would be a part of the four returned bodies on Thursday. Despite this message, the official Bibas Instagram page remained hopeful.
“Until we receive definitive confirmation [from Israel], our journey is not over,” said the Bibas family in a statement on Tuesday.
Ofri Bibas, Yarden’s sister, also released a statement on Tuesday about the uncertainty surrounding her family’s fate.
“I ask that no one eulogise my family just yet,” she wrote on Facebook. “We have held onto hope for 16 months, and we are not giving up now.”
However, whilst many including the Bibas family clung to hope that their loved one would be released alive, Israeli Hostage Forum released a statement on Wednesday that the remaining Bibas family members are to be a part of the four bodies returned to Israel from Hamas on Thursday.
“This news cuts like a knife through our hearts, the families’ hearts and the hearts of people all over the world,” said the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.
This news has left Israel devastated, as the Bibas family was a symbol of hope for many. During the 16-month duration of their captivity, Israelis marched the streets of Tel Aviv on each birthday of Shiri, Ariel and Kfir with orange balloons, praying for their return.
Relatives of the Bibas family that rallied alongside protesters said on day 331 of their captivity that one of the most painful parts of this process has been the uncertainty.
“We are a bereaved family in waiting,” they said.
The Bibas family’s bodies are expected to be returned to Israel tonight.
