Yarden Bibas asked for this song to be played at the funeral

In a deeply moving request, Yarden Bibas asked that the song "Hold On To Memories" be played at the conclusion of the eulogy ceremony for his wife, Shiri, and their sons, Ariel and Kfir, who were laid to rest on Wednesday,

Journalist Amit Segal shared that Bibas chose this song as it reflects "the place where Yarden aspires to be and his request of us—make the most of the rest of your lives, live the world to the fullest while you still have the chance. Hold on to the memories." The ceremony, held at Tzohar Cemetery near Kibbutz Nir Oz, was a private affair limited to family and close friends, yet it resonated widely as a symbol of national mourning.

The funeral procession began in the morning from a funeral home in Rishon Lezion, traveling a 60-kilometer route through multiple junctions to the cemetery near the Gaza border, where the family had been abducted by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023. Shiri, Ariel (4), and Kfir (9 months) were murdered in captivity, while Yarden was released alive on February 1, 2025, as part of an Israel-Hamas ceasefire. The bodies of his wife and children were returned in late February, allowing for this final farewell after over 500 days of uncertainty and grief.

Tens of thousands of Israelis lined the procession route, waving Israeli flags and orange balloons—orange being a color associated with the Bibas family due to their striking red hair, which had made them an enduring symbol of the hostage crisis. In Rishon Lezion alone, around 10,000 mourners gathered, some holding signs reading "Sorry" and singing "Hatikvah," Israel’s national anthem, as the coffins passed. Yarden, accompanying the minibus carrying his family’s remains, made a heart-shaped gesture with his hands to the crowds, a poignant acknowledgment of their support amid his sorrow.

At the family’s request, no government officials attended the ceremony, reflecting their desire for privacy and their frustration with public figures who had shared graphic details of the murders against their wishes. The eulogies, delivered at 11:30 a.m., were livestreamed to allow the public to join in spirit, with Yarden’s words capturing the unbearable weight of his loss. Standing before the coffins, he recounted their final moments together in their Kibbutz Nir Oz safe room: "I asked you, ‘Do we fight or surrender?’ You told me, ‘We fight.’ So I fought. Shiri, I am sorry I couldn’t protect you." He spoke of Ariel teaching him fatherhood and Kfir’s infectious laugh, pleading, "Please, stay close to me. Don’t go too far."

Yarden’s sister, Ofri Bibas-Levy, also eulogized Shiri and the boys, describing Shiri as "the perfect partner for Yarden—loving, sensitive, caring," and lamenting how Ariel’s shyness and Kfir’s sweetness would never grow into more. The family expressed gratitude for the nation’s embrace, with a statement noting, "We see and hear you, and are moved and strengthened by you," though Yarden apologized for not being able to personally hug each supporter.