Remembering Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas

The Bibas family's story has left an indelible mark on countless hearts, not just in Israel but around the world. Shiri Bibas, along with her two young sons, Ariel, aged 4, and Kfir, just nine months old, were abducted from their home during the horrific Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023. Their kidnapping—particularly the haunting image of Shiri clutching her redheaded boys as they were taken—became a powerful symbol of the brutality inflicted on innocent civilians that day, and of the 251 hostages dragged into Gaza.

For over 500 days, their fate gripped a nation that prayed for their safe return, with their red hair inspiring orange balloons, illuminated landmarks, and a collective hope that refused to fade.

Today, February 26, 2025, that hope was replaced by profound sorrow as Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir were laid to rest at Tsoher Cemetery near their home in southern Israel. The funeral was a private affair at the family’s request, attended only by close relatives and friends, yet it drew thousands of Israelis who lined the 60-kilometre procession route from Rishon Lezion to the cemetery.

Mourners waved Israeli flags, held orange balloons, and carried signs reading “sorry,” their silent presence a testament to a shared grief that transcends words. Yarden Bibas, Shiri’s husband and the boys’ father, who was also abducted but freed earlier this month, delivered a heart-wrenching eulogy. He spoke of his love for Shiri, his “mi amor,” and his regret at not being able to protect his family, asking them to watch over him from above.

The ceremony was steeped in raw emotion, with eulogies broadcast live across Israel, allowing a grieving public to join in mourning. Shiri and her sons were buried together in a single casket, an eternal embrace reflecting the bond that defined their lives and the tragedy that ended them. Nearby lie the graves of Shiri’s parents, murdered on that same fateful day, compounding the family’s loss.

For many, the Bibas family’s fate encapsulates the pain of a nation still grappling with the aftermath of October 7—a wound deepened by the knowledge that, despite forensic evidence pointing to their murder by captors in November 2023, their bodies were only returned this month as part of a tenuous ceasefire deal.

Today, as their community and country bid them farewell, the memory of Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir remains a poignant call for justice, unity, and the safe return of those still held captive.