Numerous mourners assembled at a cemetery in southern Israel to pay their last respects to Shiri Bibas and her two sons, who tragically lost their lives while in captivity in Gaza.
Orange balloons, representing the children’s vibrant red hair, danced gently in the wind from a fence close to the cemetery of kibbutz Nir Oz, the place where the Bibas family was captured by Palestinian militants on 7 October 2023.
Nearby, signs reading “sorry” and “the broken heart with the Bibas family” were displayed on another fence.
During his eulogy for his wife and two sons – Ariel and Kfir, who were four years old and nine months old respectively at the time of their abduction – Yarden Bibas expressed his sorrow, stating, “Shiri, I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you all.”
“Shiri, I love you and will always love you. You mean everything to me,” Yarden said as his voice broke with emotion while reading his eulogy, which was broadcast live from the cemetery.
Shiri Bibas with baby Kfir
The funeral was limited to immediate family and was closed to media coverage.
“Ariel, I hope you aren’t upset with me for not being able to protect you properly and for not being there when you needed me,” he added.
“I want you to know that you were on my mind every day, every moment. I hope you’re enjoying paradise.”
Reflecting on Kfir, he shared, “You brought so much light and joy into our little home. Your sweet, infectious laughter and smile had me captivated! I couldn’t resist cuddling you constantly.”
Ariel was four and Kfir was nine months old when they were kidnapped on 7 October 2023
In a touching tribute, Shiri and her two sons were laid to rest together in a single coffin, a haunting reminder of the moment they were seen clutching each other tightly as militants took them to Gaza.
The grave in the small cemetery was adorned with an abundance of orange, yellow, and white flowers, as reported by an AFP correspondent present at the scene.
People gathered in what has become known as Hostage’s Square in Tel Aviv
The left-leaning newspaper Haaretz dedicated its entire front page to the color orange.
“An entire nation in mourning bids farewell to Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir. May they rest in peace,” it proclaimed.
During the service, Shiri Bibas’s sister-in-law, Ofri, urged all Israeli officials to accept their part in the tragedy, asserting that her family could have been saved.
“There can be no forgiveness until accountability is enforced, and those responsible acknowledge their failures… They chose revenge over the possibility of saving you,” she said.
Before the funeral, a large gathering, many dressed in orange and holding Israeli flags, convened at the Tel Aviv plaza known as Hostages Square to watch the live broadcast of the service.
“Clearly, our hearts are shattered,” said Sherri Ettedgui, who relocated from Canada to Israel just two months prior.
“There are no words to convey the feelings of sympathy we have for this family, and we came here today to stand in solidarity with others who share our grief.”
Earlier that day, thousands of mourners brandishing flags and orange balloons participated in the funeral procession heading towards Zohar, near kibbutz Nir Oz.
As the funeral convoy traversed the crowd in the central city of Rishon LeZion, where the remains of the three hostages were prepared for burial, Israel’s national anthem was sung softly.
Many attendees lit candles along the roadside.
“The Bibas family has touched us all deeply,” shared Aviv Nahman, 22, her emotions palpable as she spoke to AFP. “I have a sister and nephews the same ages, so I felt compelled to be here today.”
The remains of the Bibas family were among the first to be returned following a truce agreement that concluded over 15 months of conflict in Gaza.
The handover led to outrage in Israel when Hamas initially delivered a body that was later discovered not to be Shiri’s. The militant group attributed the error to a “mix-up” and provided the correct remains the following day.
Hamas has long maintained that an Israeli air strike resulted in the deaths of Shiri, Kfir, and Ariel Bibas during the early stages of the conflict, but an Israeli post-mortem revealed no signs of blast injuries.
Yesterday, hundreds attended the funeral of hostage Oded Lifshitz, a peace advocate and former journalist who died in captivity and whose remains were also returned last week.
“We have campaigned all these years for social justice and peace. Sadly, we have incurred a devastating loss from those we assisted on the other side,” remarked his wife, Yocheved Lifshitz, who was also abducted on 7 October in Kibbutz Nir Oz but released a few weeks later.
