| Kidnapping of the Bibas family | |
|---|---|
| Part of the Israel–Hamas war | |
 Shiri Bibas with her 9-month and 4-year-old sons Kfir and Ariel | |
| Location | Nir Oz, Israel |
| Date | 7 October 2023 |
Attack type | Kidnapping, mass murder |
| Accused | Lords of the Desert,[1] Mujahideen Brigades, and Hamas. |
On 7 October 2023, as part of the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel and the Nir Oz attack, the Palestinian Islamist militant organization Hamas abducted the Israeli-Argentinian/Peruvian[2][3][4] Bibas (Hebrew: ביבס) family from the Nir Oz kibbutz: 9-month-old Kfir (Hebrew: כפיר), 4-year-old Ariel (Hebrew: אריאל), 32-year-old mother Shiri (Hebrew: שירי; née Silberman), and her 34-year-old husband Yarden (Hebrew: ירדן).[5][6] The youngest child, baby Kfir, was the youngest hostage taken in the 7 October 2023 attacks.[7] Shiri's parents, who also lived on the kibbutz, were later found murdered.[8]
Amidst widespread concern and a campaign for their release, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said that Hamas transferred the family to a different armed group within Gaza, the Mujahideen Brigades of the Palestinian Mujahideen Movement.[9] Efforts to release Shiri and her children during a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas were unsuccessful; Hamas later claimed that they were killed as a result of an Israeli airstrike in Khan Yunis.[10] Israel has not confirmed their deaths, but has expressed "grave" concerns about their status.[11][12]
On 19 February, the IDF presented the relatives of the Bibas family a video showing Shiri and the children while they were still alive several days after the abduction. The video was apparently filmed in southern Gaza.[13] The Bibas family is slated to be released during the first phase on the 2025 hostage deal.[14][15]
- ^ "דובר צה"ל: "משפחת ביבס נחטפה על ידי ארגון בשם 'אדוני השממה'. חמאס אחראי לגורלם"" [IDF spokesman: "The Biebs family was kidnapped by an organization called 'Lords of the Desert.' Hamas is responsible for their fate" 20.02.24]. Ynet (in Hebrew). 19 February 2024. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
- ^ "Video shows the kidnapping of Shiri Silberman-Bibas and her children by Hamas gunmen". NBC News.
- ^ Friedson, Felice (7 December 2023). "Bibas family cousin pleads to meet with world leaders". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
- ^ "Released Oct. 7 Footage Shows the Abduction of the Bibas Family by Hamas". www.idf.il. 19 February 2024. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
- ^ Davis, Barney (15 October 2023). "Family share heartbreaking footage of nine-month-old baby and four-year-old boy who were abducted by Hamas". The Independent. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
- ^ Sinmaz, Emine; McKernan, Bethan (22 November 2023). "Families of hostages in Gaza wait to see if relatives among those freed". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
- ^ Goldenberg, Tia (28 November 2023). "The family of an infant hostage pleads for his release before the Israel-Hamas truce winds down". AP News. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
- ^ "Taken captive: Yarden Bibas, injured on his head at abduction". Times of Israel.
- ^ "IDF: Hamas abducted Bibas family, including baby, handed them to another terror group". Times of Israel. 1 January 2024.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
:6was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "4 female soldiers freed by Hamas, paraded on Gaza stage, returned to Israel". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
- ^ Staff, ToI. "Bibas family: 'World came crashing down' when Shiri, kids weren't slated for release". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
- ^ זיתון, יואב; שאולוב, רוני גרין (19 February 2024). "צה"ל הציג למשפחת ביבס תיעוד של האם ושני ילדיה מדרום הרצועה, ימים לאחר החטיפה". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 19 February 2024.
- ^ JTA and ToI Staff. "Israel-Hamas deal draws renewed attention to hostage children Kfir and Ariel Bibas". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
- ^ "List of 33 hostages due to be freed in first stage of ceasefire deal with Hamas released". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 17 January 2025.