NewsBite

Breaking

Fears grow for Yarden Bibas’ young family after Hamas release two hostages

Hamas have released the latest round of hostages, including young father Yarden Bibas, but fears are growing about his wife and sons.

Hamas begins releasing more Israeli hostages

Two hostages have been released by gun-toting Hamas terrorists as fears grow for the young Bibas brothers.

Their dad Yarden Bibas, 34, has finally been freed this morning after being held for 484 days in captivity by the terror group, The Sun reported.

He and Ofer Kalderon, 53, were handed over to the Red Cross in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis.

American-Israeli Keith Samuel Siegel, 65, is also set to be freed later this morning as part of the fragile ceasefire deal with Israel.

Yarden Bibas waving on a stage before being handed over to members of the International Red Cross. Photo by AFPTV / AFP
Yarden Bibas waving on a stage before being handed over to members of the International Red Cross. Photo by AFPTV / AFP
Bibas was freed after 484 days. Photo by AFPTV / AFP
Bibas was freed after 484 days. Photo by AFPTV / AFP

But fears are growing for Yarden’s sons Kfir, two, and Ariel, five, and his wife, Shiri.

The boys were kidnapped alongside their parents from Kibbutz Nir Oz during Hamas’ October 7 bloodbath.

Kfir was only 9 months old when he was barbarically kidnapped.

The children and their mum were last seen alive in a video being marched through Gaza by gunmen.

In November, Hamas claimed Shiri and her sons had been killed in an Israeli air strike — a statement Israel’s military said it could not verify at the time.

Their dad, Yarden, was reportedly separated from them and held in a different location.

Before they were freed, the Israeli hostages were paraded on stage by Hamas fighters.

Surrounded by green-headband wearing soldiers with rifles, the brave hostages waved during the cruel ceremony.

Yarden, Shiri, Ariel and Kfir Bibas. Picture: Instagram
Yarden, Shiri, Ariel and Kfir Bibas. Picture: Instagram
The Bibas family (L-R) Yarden, 34, Shiri, 32, Ariel, 4 & Kfir, 1
The Bibas family (L-R) Yarden, 34, Shiri, 32, Ariel, 4 & Kfir, 1

The two hostages were then collected by Red Cross vehicles and brought to Israel.

Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said earlier this month that the IDF is “very concerned and worried” about the condition of the Bibas children and their mother.

Baby Kfir turned two in captivity in January.

Across Israel, posters of the red-haired toddler clutching his pink elephant have become a painful symbol of the hostage crisis.

Kalderon, 54, was abducted from Nir Oz alongside his two children, Sahar, 16, and Erez, 12.

His kids were released in November, but he remained in Hamas’ hands.

Siegel, an American-Israeli, was taken hostage along with his wife, Aviva, from their home in Kfar Aza.

Aviva was freed during a previous ceasefire.

Seventeen of the 33 hostages due for release in the first stage of the ceasefire have now been released in exchange for 400 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.

On Thursday, Hamas released seven hostages including Agam Berger, 20, Arbel Yehud, 29 and Gadi Mozes, 80.

They were the third group of hostages to be released from Hamas’ terror captivity as part of the ceasefire deal with Israel.

This story first appeared in The Sun and was republished with permission.

Originally published as Fears grow for Yarden Bibas’ young family after Hamas release two hostages

Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/fears-grow-for-yarden-bibas-young-family-after-hamas-release-two-hostages/news-story/335729f3e9b20033345a643b465425df