Father of Hamas’ youngest hostages is released — but his family remains in Hamas captivity

Yarden Bibas is back successful Israel much than 480 days aft Hamas terrorists ripped him from his location successful Kibbutz Nir Oz and dragged him to the Gaza Strip. Bibas’ return, however, is bittersweet arsenic his wife, Shiri, and their 2 young children, Ariel and Kfir, stay successful Gaza. Their destiny is unknown, and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has made it wide that determination are "grave concerns astir their wellbeing."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu celebrated Yarden Bibas’ return, portion saying the nation’s thoughts are with Shiri, Ariel and Kfir Bibas.

"Our thoughts are present with Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas, and each of our abductees. We volition proceed to enactment to bring them home," Netanyahu wrote connected X.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog besides commented connected Yarden’s release, calling it "heartbreaking."

"Yarden's reunion with his household is simply heartbreaking. We each stay profoundly acrophobic for the destiny of our beloved Shiri, Ariel and Kfir Bibas - arsenic an full federation we clasp them successful our hearts. The radical of Israel basal by Yarden and the full family, with large interest and successful heartfelt prayer," Herzog wrote successful a station connected X.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum besides celebrated Yarden Bibas’ return, and vowed to proceed demanding that his woman and 2 sons beryllium released.

Early Saturday, Bibas was freed alongside American-Israeli Keith Siegel and French-Israeli Ofer Kalderon successful the 4th circular of hostage releases arsenic portion of signifier 1 of Israel and Hamas’ ongoing ceasefire deal.

"From the infinitesimal Hamas launched its barbaric onslaught connected October 7th, we person remained committed to 1 mission—bringing each hostage home," IDF International Spokesperson Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani wrote connected Substack. "We cannot and volition not hide for a moment, the 79 hostages that stay successful Hamas captivity."

AMERICAN AMONG THREE HOSTAGES FREED FROM TERROR'S GRIP AFTER NEARLY 500 DAYS

The merchandise of Bibas, Siegel and Kalderon looked antithetic from erstwhile hostages’ releases, which saw shocking scenes of crowds mobbing the captives arsenic they were transferred to the Red Cross. This alteration is apt owed to Netanyahu’s request that mediators warrant the hostages harmless exits pursuing the chaotic scenes.

While successful captivity, Bibas was forced to marque a hostage movie successful which helium was seen breaking down arsenic Hamas claimed his woman and children had been killed. Hamas often uses these types of videos arsenic portion of what the IDF calls "psychological terror." However, the panic enactment included Shiri, Kfir and Ariel connected the database of 33 hostages acceptable to beryllium released successful the archetypal signifier of the ceasefire deal.

Upon his release, Yarden's household said that "a 4th of our bosom has returned to america aft 15 agelong months… Yarden has returned home, but the location remains incomplete."

As images and videos of Hamas’ brutal attacks connected Oct. 7 began to spread, the Bibas household rapidly became a awesome of the panic group’s cruelty. A video of Shiri Bibas holding her 2 red-headed children successful her arms was dispersed crossed the globe. Those calling for the Bibas’ family’s merchandise often utilized the colour orangish to symbolize the babe and toddler’s agleam reddish hair.

At the clip of their kidnapping, Kfir was 9 months aged and Ariel was 4 years old. They are the lone kid hostages remaining successful Gaza. Ariel is present 5 years aged and Kfir marked his 2nd day successful Hamas captivity, wherever helium has spent his 2 and lone birthdays.

As of Saturday, 79 hostages stay successful Gaza, 35 of whom person been declared dormant and whose bodies stay successful the hands of Hamas. Keith Siegel, who was freed connected Saturday, is the archetypal Israeli-American to beryllium released. There are inactive six American citizens successful Gaza, lone 2 of whom are believed to beryllium alive.