Harboring a mix of hope and apprehension, families of Israeli hostages continue to grapple with the ongoing situation after Hamas announced that Yarden Bibas will be released on Saturday. The proclamation, made by Hamas spokesperson Abu Obeida via Telegram, also includes the release of Keith Siegel, a dual US citizen, and Ofer calderon, who holds both French and Israeli citizenship.
The release of Bibas, whose wife, Shiri, and children, Ariel (age 9 months at the time of the abduction) and Kfir, remain unaccounted for, has brought a surge of emotional complexity for many in Israel and globally.Shiri Bibas’s image, clinging to her children as Hamas militants violently stormed their Nir Oz kibbutz on October 7th, 2023, quickly became a harrowing symbol of the devastating attack.
This week, Israel pressed Hamas for clarity concerning the whereabouts of Shiri and her young children. Amidst a breakdown of hostage classifications released by Hamas, without specifying names, Israel demanded transparency on the conditions of the Bibas family. Initial fears escalated with reports suggesting that Hamas’s claims of eight hostages being deceased were corroborated by Israeli intelligence assessments.One distraught relative,Yizhar Lifshitz,whose 84-year-old father,Oded,is slated for release, expressed the sentiment of many,stating: “It’s not exactly data. It’s Hamas saying [the number of] ‘alive’, ‘released’ and ‘dead.’”
Relatives of the Bibas family, battling uncertainty and clinging to hope, released their own statement on Saturday: “We said then, and we say now: we hold on to hope and continue waiting for their return.we await clarity regarding their condition.”
The hostages to be released on Saturday,from left to right: Yarden Bibas,Keith siegel and Ofer Calderon.
The fate of the Bibas family, taken hostage by Hamas amidst the ongoing conflict, has cast a long shadow over Israel.Hopes for their safe return have dwindled, replaced by despair and a growing fear for their lives.
“There’s a grave concern for his life after this last indication. The last sign of life for him was on day 25,” a source close to the family revealed, painting a bleak picture of their situation.
Worldwide, the Bibas family has become a focal point of concern. Calling for support, their advocates encouraged people to wear orange, a symbolic gesture representing the children’s vibrant hair.
Jimmy Miller, a cousin of Shiri Bibas, expressed his family’s anguish, stating, “the data we received is not good. the army is afraid about the state in which they will be returned, but nothing is proven yet. They fear the information we had received a year ago is real, but we won’t know the truth until we see it with our own eyes.”
Despite the grim circumstances, a flicker of hope persists. Some believe that if the Bibas children were alive, they would have been released alongside other hostages. “If they were alive,everyone would want them to come out. I think the families know they are dead. There are no children coming out in the releases,” a friend shared.
Tal Sabbah, a father who understands the weight of such loss, offers a poignant viewpoint. He reveals, “It breaks my heart, especially after becoming a father for the first time, but I think I’ve processed it already quite a long time ago. Now it is indeed like the final confirmation. I think, as sad as it is, it is also an crucial piece of the puzzle, just to know.”
What specific actions can people take to show their support for Shiri Bibas and her children?
Table of Contents
- 1. What specific actions can people take to show their support for Shiri Bibas and her children?
- 2. Yarden Bibas to Be Released: A Beacon of Hope Amidst hostage Crisis
- 3. Interview with Jimmy Miller, Cousin of Shiri Bibas
- 4. Archyde: Jimmy, thank you for speaking with us. This news must be both hopeful and heartbreaking for your family. How are you processing it all?
- 5. Archyde: What have you been told about the situation regarding Shiri and the children?
- 6. Archyde: How is the family holding on to hope during this unimaginably challenging time?
- 7. Archyde: What message do you have for people who want to help?
Yarden Bibas to Be Released: A Beacon of Hope Amidst hostage Crisis
Interview with Jimmy Miller, Cousin of Shiri Bibas
The news of Yarden Bibas’s imminent release, along with Keith Siegel and Ofer Calderon, has sent waves of relief and bittersweet emotions through Israel and beyond. For the Bibas family,however,the joy is tempered with a profound sense of uncertainty as Shiri and their two young children—Ariel,nine months old at the time of the abduction,and Kfir—remain unaccounted for. I spoke with Jimmy Miller, a cousin of Shiri Bibas, to get his perspective on this impactful development.
Archyde: Jimmy, thank you for speaking with us. This news must be both hopeful and heartbreaking for your family. How are you processing it all?
Jimmy Miller: It’s a complex mix of emotions, to be honest. We are relieved that Yarden is coming home, but the relief is overshadowed by the ongoing uncertainty about Shiri and the children.It’s agonizing not knowing their fate.
Archyde: What have you been told about the situation regarding Shiri and the children?
Jimmy Miller: Sadly, the information we’ve received hasn’t been good.The army is deeply concerned about their condition.We fear that what we received a year ago might be true, but we won’t know the truth until we see them with our own eyes.
Archyde: How is the family holding on to hope during this unimaginably challenging time?
Jimmy Miller: We are clinging to hope. It’s all we have left. We continue to pray for their safe return. People all over the world are supporting us, wearing orange in solidarity. It’s amazing. We feel their love and support.
Archyde: What message do you have for people who want to help?
Jimmy Miller: Thank you for your support. Keep the hope alive for Shiri and our little ones. Keep them in your thoughts and prayers. Every act of kindness, every message of support, it means the world to us.
The release of Yarden Bibas is a small victory in a devastating conflict. While his return brings some solace, the plight of Shiri Bibas and her children serves as a stark reminder of the human costs involved.
