All there is to know about Yarden Bibas: The Bibas father due to be rele

On the morning of the attack, Yarden was in constant communication with his sister, Ofri, as the violence escalated in their village. At 6:30 a.m., he sent a message detailing the rocket fire, followed by reports of terrorists breaching the kibbutz. In his final message, Yarden wrote, “This feels like the end,” signaling the dire situation he and his family faced. Ofri recalled her brother’s words about the intense fighting and how his young children, Ariel and Kfir, couldn’t remain quiet, which only heightened his sense of impending doom. Hours later, a chilling video surfaced showing Shiri, Yarden’s wife, holding their two children, surrounded by armed terrorists.

Yarden’s family was separated during the abduction. While videos of Shiri holding her children in terror circulated, Yarden’s own footage later emerged, showing him bloodied and surrounded by militants. The distressing images were part of a broader narrative of the Bibas family's ordeal.

Ariel, 5, and Kfir, now 2, are the only known children still held in Gaza, after a ceasefire deal in November 2023 led to the release of many hostages, but not the Bibas family. Despite Hamas claiming in November that Shiri and the children were killed in an Israeli airstrike, Israel has not confirmed this and continues to demand clarity on their whereabouts and condition.

Yarden’s sister, Ofri, remains hopeful but deeply worried. She expressed her pain, saying, “Our children are very good friends. Yarden talked a lot about wanting them to grow up together.” As the days pass, the uncertainty remains. “We hold on to hope and continue waiting for their return,” Ofri said in a statement. “We await clarity regarding their condition.”

Yarden Bibas, a welder by trade, is described by his family as kind-hearted, with a sense of humor and a deep love for his family. He is also known for his caring nature, often thinking of his children’s future and hoping to see them grow up together. His two children, Ariel and Kfir, have become emblematic of the youngest victims of the attacks, with their image featured on countless campaigns for hostages’ release.

As Yarden is set to be released, there are still grave concerns for the fate of Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir. Yarden’s situation highlights the complexity of the hostage crisis in Gaza and the emotional turmoil for families like the Bibas who await answers, holding on to hope in the face of uncertainty.