After over 15 months since the youngest hostages of October 7th were brutally ripped from their homes, Hamas has promised to announce the fate of the Bibas toddlers — Ariel and Kfir, who were only 4 years old and 8 months old when they were taken captive. 

Holding my breath 🎗️🎗️🎗️🎗️ pic.twitter.com/tgFPkJFkis

— Aviva Klompas (@AvivaKlompas) January 24, 2025

Yarden and Shiri Bibas were taken along with their children from their home in Nir Oz. Shiri's parents, José Luis (Yossi) Silberman and his wife, Margit Shnaider Silberman, were murdered on the day of their captivity. 

People all over the world have rallied behind this family as they watched and prayed for their return. Orange balloons, representative of the striking red hair of the brothers, have become a symbol of the hostages. The Bibas family have been depicted in art, their likeness painted on the sides of tall buildings, and honored in balloon releases in countries all over the globe. Truly, millions of people hold their breath as we await to hear of their fate.

500 orange balloons (symbolizing Kfir’s gingy hair) released to sky by crowd at a TLV rally calling for the release of 10-month-old Kfir Bibas and his family.

🎥 Danor Aharon pic.twitter.com/dCHJ6GubTb

— Jacob N. Kornbluh (@jacobkornbluh) November 28, 2023

Caulfield, Melbourne, Australia - mural depicting the plight of the 134 hostages, including Bibas family, held captive by Hamas terrorists in Gaza#BringThemHomeNow pic.twitter.com/rlIJbkdFib

— Menachem Vorchheimer (@MenachemV) February 17, 2024

The initial hostage deal that took place in November of 2023 was intended to secure the release of all of the children and their mothers. All the other children were freed, but Ariel and Kfir were last on the list, and Hamas pulled out of the deal. Initially, Hamas tried to claim that the mother and her children were not in their custody and were instead given to another Palestinian faction group. Then, they claimed they were killed in an Israeli air raid. Hamas has claimed before that hostages were dead that they later exchanged alive. Israel has been skeptical of their claims. It would make sense for them to want to keep the youngest children captives as important bargaining chips because that's what monsters do. 

Reports from freed hostages, including Adina Moshe, who spent time with Yarden, say that he believed at first that he had sacrificed himself, but his family was safe. He was not aware that they were captured after him. When he was informed in captivity, it had a devastating effect on him. 

When asked if Yarden Bibas knew what happened to Shiri and the children during the abduction, she explained: “He said that he had left the safe room and confronted the Hamas terrorists. Shiri and the children stayed inside. He told us, ‘I really hope they didn’t get to them, because the terrorists in my house captured me and took me to the meeting point at the kibbutz, and from there, they took me to Khan Younis.’ He believed that for a long time. At some point, I asked Hamas if Shiri and the children were with them. They told me it would take them time to find out. I established a good relationship with Hamas from the beginning, understanding it would be in our best interest.”

Later, Hamas filmed Yarden as they told him that his family had been murdered. It can be believed that if Yarden is still alive, he believes to this day that his family is dead. But there is a hope that within the month, if this new hostage deal holds, all four will be home together. The anticipation is gutwrenching. 

If they were to be released, Shiri and the children would be released first, and Yarden would be released in the stage after all the women have been freed. In the November 2023 deal, mothers were released with their children to ensure that Hamas didn't try to keep families separated. However, many fathers were left behind. In this current deal, men will be released separately as well. There is a concern that Hamas would purposely kill Yarden to ensure that this family, who have become so beloved by the world, remains separated forever. 

But what if they return those precious children in coffins? What will be the consequence? Hamas is responsible for their lives, and many have promised outrage if they are harmed. Hamas knows how important this family is to Israel and its allies. They will likely try to draw it out as long as they can before releasing them. 

Shiri Bibas and her little children were kidnapped ALIVE.

They had better come back alive. pic.twitter.com/MurC9m8It2

— Eylon Levy (@EylonALevy) January 15, 2025

The Littlest Hostage: Happy Birthday, Kfir

The littlest prisoner, Kfir, celebrated his first and second birthday in captivity. The thought is unimaginable. We hold our breath and say our prayers as we wait to know if on his third birthday, we may all celebrate together.