In a heartfelt decision, Education Minister allows students to join fune

Following the decision by Education Minister Yoav Kisch to allow an organized departure for the funeral procession of the Bibas family he added "There is significance and importance in the participation of high school students in the funeral procession, in an organized manner, on behalf of the school."

This decision highlights the immense national grief following the brutal murder of Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas, who were murdered in Hamas captivity following the October 7 attack. The murder of this family, including two young children, has shaken Israel to its core, and their funeral has become a powerful moment of collective mourning.

The Bibas family was abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz during the Hamas-led terrorist assault that killed around 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages, an act that marked the beginning of the war in Gaza. After months of suffering, their bodies were returned to Israel in a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. Yarden Bibas, the father, was released on February 1, but the bodies of his wife Shiri and their two young children, Ariel (4) and Kfir (9 months), were only returned later, adding to the family’s unspeakable pain.

The funeral of Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir will take place tomorrow, with a procession starting at 7:45 a.m. in Rishon Lezion and making its way through various locations, including Yad Mamordechai Junction and Sha'ar Hanegev. At 11:30 a.m., the public will be able to hear the eulogies from the ceremony, which will be broadcasted online. The family has requested that the funeral be limited to invited guests, but the public is encouraged to honor their memory by standing by the streets with Israeli flags, symbolizing national unity and sorrow.

The murder of Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas, and the grief surrounding their loss, has had a profound impact on the Israeli public. The tragedy of losing two young children in such a brutal and senseless act of terrorism has reverberated throughout the country. It serves as a painful reminder of the ongoing violence and the human cost of the war. The government’s decision to allow students to join the funeral procession is not just an act of support for the Bibas family, but also a recognition of the deep emotional toll that these tragic losses have taken on all of Israel.

The funeral tomorrow will be a poignant moment for the country to reflect, mourn, and come together in solidarity as they bid farewell to a mother and her two young sons, whose lives were stolen far too soon. The Israeli public will stand together in honoring their memory, showing the strength and resilience of a nation in the face of unimaginable tragedy.