Yarden Bibas, who was released after being held hostage by Hamas, faces uncertainty regarding the whereabouts of his wife Shiri and their two young sons, as family members demand accountability and transparency from the Israeli government in light of Hamas's conflicting claims about their fates.
Family of Israeli Hostage Demand Clarity on Missing Loved Ones Amid Ongoing Conflict
Family of Israeli Hostage Demand Clarity on Missing Loved Ones Amid Ongoing Conflict
The family of Yarden Bibas, an Israeli hostage recently freed, calls for answers regarding the fate of his missing wife and children, amplifying the emotional toll of the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
The family of Yarden Bibas, who was released from Hamas captivity over the weekend, is urgently seeking clarity about the whereabouts of his wife, Shiri, and their two young sons, Ariel and Kfir, who were taken during the same assault that led to his abduction. Yarden, aged 34, was set free on Saturday alongside two other hostages in exchange for 183 Palestinian prisoners, part of a ceasefire agreement aimed at de-escalating tensions in Gaza.
Shiri, at 33, and her sons, aged five and two, were among the thousands affected by the escalating violence that erupted on October 7, 2023. Hamas has claimed that the boys were killed in Israeli airstrikes in November 2023, though they have yet to substantiate these claims. As the Israeli military remains silent on the matter, the uncertainty has prompted family members to speak out.
At Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Shiri's sister, Dana Silberman-Sitton, expressed her frustration, stating, "We will no longer accept uncertainty." She chastised the Israeli authorities, insisting that the responsibility to protect her family rests with the government.
On the list of hostages eligible for exchange, Shiri and her sons were named among 33 Israeli captives, but the emotional toll of waiting has been devastating. Dana shared the family's desperation, emphasizing how the state has been neglectful in their search, and cited the government's obligations to its citizens, including the Bibas family.
Yarden's sister, Ofri Bibas Levy, highlighted that while Yarden returned, the absence of answers regarding Shiri and the boys haunts him. Gal Hirsch, the government's hostage coordinator, stated there has been ongoing communication with mediators seeking information about their condition.
As family members display placards with the children's images, the Israeli government's spokesperson referenced intelligence suggesting that some of the remaining hostages may not be alive. This painful confirmation only deepens the wound for families still waiting for their loved ones to come home. Meanwhile, Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed deep concern about the fate of those still missing.
The broader conflict has already taken a heavy toll: since the onset of hostilities resulting from the attack on October 7, over 1,200 individuals have lost their lives, alongside an estimated 47,460 Palestinian casualties owing to Israel's military engagement in Gaza, according to reports from Gaza's health ministry.
