Nine-month-old Kfir, taken hostage by Hamas on October 7, has turned ten as the Israel-Hamas conflict completes a month.
Kfir Bibas, an Israeli infant with a family of four, mom Shiri, dad Yarden, and the two siblings- were abducted by Hamas when the Islamist terrorist group surprisingly attacked southern and central Israel. The rockets landed in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem as well.
Numerous Israelis and Palestinians have had their lives altered by the October 7 attack. However, it has come to light that Kfir, a red-haired infant with a beaming smile, is one of the 32 kids that the terrorist group is currently holding captive in Gaza.
There has been no news or updates on the family since the kidnapping. But, the grandfather, Eli Bibas clings to hope amid the recent announcement of hostage release this week.
Eli Bibas, 66, said on Sunday, “This is my whole life now”. He stated that he is looking forward to getting his grandchildren, son, and daughter-in-law home safely in an interview with the Tazpit Press Service regarding their detention in Hamas.
Dramatic Fate of Israel’s Bibas Family by Hamas
Among several other families, the Bibas met with their tragic fate after the Hamas terrorists invaded their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz, on 7th October and kidnapped all four of them.
Later, when air raid sirens began to sound, alerting people to the impending rocket attack from Gaza, the situation became a nightmare. With an estimated 2,200 rockets fired toward Israel, many civilians moved to different locations to secure their family, and the Bibas was also one of them.
Yarden, the father, updated his sister Ofri about the situation, and by 9 am, the frequency of air raid warnings intensified. The situation caused difficulty for Grandfather Eli Bibas, as he planned to visit his family that day.
By 9.20 am that morning, Yarden had already understood the future as air sirens went off, causing full disruption among civilians. He also sent an ‘I love you’ text to his father Eli, describing that he was unable to keep his children quiet.
He also expressed how he anticipated using his handgun against the Hamas terrorists but at 9.45 am, his last message came, quoted as “They’re inside”.
Videos of the wife Shiri clutching her two sons firmly in the face of terrorists surfaced after the incident. A few days later, a horrifying new picture of Yarden with his body covered in blood and vulnerable to a Hamas terrorist brandishing a hammer went viral.
The family’s tragedy did not stop at just kidnapping, the terrorists burned Shiri’s parents alive in their Kibbutz homes. This horrific incident is not just limited to the Bibas family but many have suffered the same.
The brutality has overtaken the lives of many while several others live their life in anticipation of reuniting with their loved ones.
The city of Kibbutz Nir Oz has seen devastation on a large scale where one of four members of a family was either kidnapped or killed. But, Eli Bibas still clings on to hope. He prays that he may soon get to reunite with his family.
Eli is among the many Israelis who find hope in the recent report regarding the possible release of hostages after there had been no news or updates for a month.
Alongside, his father, Orfi, the sister has been tirelessly advocating for their family’s updates and seeking international assistance from the UN Human Rights Council.
The Bibas family shared their part of living the nightmare and emphasised the collective anguish that has wrecked the communities at their core.