In a solemn procession, tens of thousands of Israelis gathered alongside highways, held flags, orange balloons, and signs reading “forgive us” as they honored a mother and her two young sons tragically lost during captivity in the Gaza Strip. Their bodies were being transported for burial on Wednesday, marking a poignant moment in the nation’s collective grief following the devastating attack by the militant group Hamas on October 7, 2023. This assault has left an indelible scar across Israel, dramatically shaping the ongoing conflict.
The Bibas family’s tragic story, in which footage captured the terrified Shiri Bibas holding her 9-month-old son Kfir and 4-year-old Ariel as they were abducted, has become etched into Israel’s memory. The nation continues to mourn their loss deeply. While Israel reports that forensic evidence indicates the two young boys were killed by their captors in November 2023, Hamas claims the family and their guards were victims of an Israeli airstrike. The bodies were returned earlier this month under a ceasefire agreement that temporarily suspended the war between Israel and Hamas.
The handover of their bodies was not without distress, as Israelis faced another painful moment when one body returned was initially misidentified, but Shiri’s body was accurately identified later. Yarden Bibas, who was abducted separately, had been released last month. His family, however, was laid to rest in a private funeral near Kibbutz Nir Oz, where they had lived.
The route taken by the funeral convoy spanned 100 kilometers (60 miles) from central Israel to a cemetery, where people lined the roads, weeping and embracing as the hearse moved by. Accompanying the procession were hundreds of motorcycles, each bearing an Israeli flag and orange ribbons. In Tel Aviv, thousands gathered to witness the eulogies broadcasted live, with many donning orange in solidarity.
Kfir, who was the youngest among the approximately 30 children taken as hostages, became widely recognized across Israel for his red hair and infectious smile. His plight was highlighted by Israeli leaders internationally, underscoring the family’s agony.
The Bibas family engaged in protests, adopting orange as the emblem for their campaign for the “ginger babies,” and commemorated Kfir’s first birthday by releasing orange balloons, appealing for global support.
Television and social media shared family photos, fostering a nation-wide connection with the Bibas children. Israelis learned of Ariel’s love for Batman, a detail brought to light by photos of happier times that showed the family in costumes.
Parting words from Yarden Bibas memorialized his loved ones during the funeral service. Reflecting on their last moments, he recalled asking his wife Shiri whether they should resist or surrender, to which she replied with resolve. Struggling with his inability to protect his family, he expressed profound regret.
To his elder son Ariel, Yarden conveyed his constant thoughts and remarked on Ariel’s ability to delight with humor. He imagined Ariel in heaven, surrounded by the butterflies he once adored during family picnics.
Addressing his youngest, Kfir, Yarden lamented his inability to shield him and expressed his longing for his laughter.
Shiri’s sister, Dana Silberman Sitton, shared the overwhelming experience of burying her sister alongside their parents. She called for the remembrance of Shiri’s vivacity rather than her terror-stricken image during captivity, and sought forgiveness for the delayed resolution in bringing them home.
Yarden’s sister, Ofri Bibas Levy, advocated for accountability, stressing that forgiveness is tied to responsibility concurrent with a comprehensive investigation into failures.
Amidst the body release spectacle, Hamas militants featured coffins adorned with the names of Shiri and her sons, despite the somber occasion being juxtaposed with upbeat music. Behind them, images of a vampire-like Netanyahu loomed in a cartoon depiction.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the delayed return of Shiri’s body as a “cruel and malicious violation” of the ceasefire agreement. In the tragic events following the October 7 attack, which ignited the war, Israel counts over 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken, while the Gaza Health Ministry reports more than 48,000 Palestinian casualties without distinction between combatants and civilians.
