Hamas Hostage Released, Family Remains Captive “`

After over 480 days in Hamas captivity following his abduction from Kibbutz Nir Oz, Yarden Bibas has been released. However, his release is bittersweet; his wife, Shiri, and their two young children, Ariel and Kfir, remain held in Gaza, their well-being a grave concern for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed Bibas’s return but expressed the nation’s ongoing concern for Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir. He stated on X, “Our thoughts are now with Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas, and all of our abductees. We will continue to work to bring them home.”

President Herzog also commented, expressing heartbreak at the situation and emphasizing continued concern for the family. He stated on X that the nation holds them in its heart and stands with Yarden and the family.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum also celebrated Bibas’s return while vowing to continue advocating for the release of his wife and sons.

Bibas was freed early Saturday, along with American-Israeli Keith Siegel and French-Israeli Ofer Kalderon, in the fourth round of hostage releases under the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement’s first phase.

“From the moment Hamas launched its barbaric attack on October 7th, we have remained committed to one mission—bringing every hostage home,” IDF International Spokesperson Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani wrote on Substack. “We cannot and will not forget for a moment, the 79 hostages that remain in Hamas captivity.”

“Today, Americans celebrate the return of American-Israeli citizen Keith Siegel and two Israelis who were held captive by Hamas terrorists since Oct. 7, 2023.  President Trump and his Administration have worked diligently to secure their release and are committed to freeing all remaining hostages,” said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

This release differed from previous ones, lacking the chaotic scenes of crowds surrounding hostages; this change is attributed to Netanyahu’s insistence on safe passage for the released individuals.

During his captivity, Bibas was compelled to participate in a propaganda video where he appeared distressed, following Hamas’s false claim that his wife and children were dead. This tactic is considered “psychological terror” by the IDF. Despite this, Shiri, Kfir, and Ariel were included in the list of 33 hostages slated for release in phase one.

Upon his release, Yarden’s family stated, “a quarter of our heart has returned to us after 15 long months… Yarden has returned home, but the home remains incomplete.”

Following the October 7th attacks, the Bibas family became a symbol of Hamas’ brutality. Images of Shiri Bibas holding her two red-haired children circulated widely, prompting global calls for their release, often using the color orange in solidarity.

At the time of their abduction, Kfir was 9 months old and Ariel was 4. They are the only child hostages remaining in Gaza. Ariel is now 5, and Kfir recently celebrated his second birthday in captivity.

As of Saturday, 79 hostages remain in Gaza, 35 of whom are deceased, their bodies still held by Hamas. Keith Siegel is the first Israeli-American to be released. Six American citizens remain in Gaza, with only two believed to be alive.

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