Australian link to family taken hostage by Hamas and feared dead: ‘It’s devastating’

The Sydney family of a woman and two kids taken hostage by Hamas have said “it’s devastating” as they try and find out if they are alive or dead.

Australian link to family taken hostage by Hamas and feared dead: ‘It’s devastating’

The Australian family of two children and their parents taken hostage in Gaza have said they are “devastated” at the prospect they may never see any of them again.

Kfir Bibas, 10 months, his four year old brother Ariel and mum Shiri, 30, were taken hostage by Hamas on October 7 at the Nir Oz kibbutz near the Gaza border. The whereabouts of dad Yarden is unknown.

An image of the distressed mum and her two red headed kids, which she held close to her as she was taken away by Hamas militants to Gaza, was seen around the world.

Yarden, Shiri, Ariel and Kfir Bibas. Picture: Instagram

Hamas killed at least 1200 people in Israel and took more than 200 hostage. Israel’s subsequent war against Hamas in Gaza is estimated to have killed 15,000 Palestinians.

While Hamas has been releasing hostages for days – mostly women and children – the Bias family has not been among them.

Hamas said that Kfir, Ariel and Shiri were passed to another militant group which took them to southern Gaza away from the centre of the fighting.

The Bibas family, including 10-months-old Kfir, 4-year-old Ariel and their mother Shiri were abducted by Hamas on October 7. Picture Israel Defence Forces

However, it has now said the trio were killed in an Israeli air strike prior to this week’s truce.

But Israel has said it has received no confirmation or proof of the Bibas’ deaths.

Ms Bibas’ aunt Michal Keshet lives in Sydney with her husband Eltan and daughter Shanee.

“We have not had official word yet … we don’t know what is true and what isn’t,” Ms Keshet’s husband Eltan told The Daily Telegraph.

“Right now we are doing what we can to stay sane … it’s devastating”.

Michal Keshet and husband Eltan at a protest rally on October 19. Michal has family who have been kidnapped by Hamas. Picture: Julian Andrews

Michel, Eltan and Shanee have posted images of them holding pictures of the Bibas family saying “We are waiting for you. Please come home safe”.

The Bibas’ are citizens of the US, Germany, the Netherlands and Russia.

The Israeli Defence Force said it was investigating the reports of the three deaths.

“Hamas is wholly responsible for the security of all hostages in the Gaza Strip. Hamas must be held accountable,” it said in a statement.

Kfir Bibas is feared dead but there is no confirmation. Picture:. Instagram.

Shiri Bibas, 30, was at her home in Kibbutz Nir Oz when she was taken. Picture: Twitter.

Hamas has released more than 100 of the 200 plus hostages it snatched on October 7.

If the swaps of hostages for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel continue then all the women and children held by Hamas would be released within days.

Egypt, Qatar and the US, the key nations talking to Israel and Hamas, have urged the current truce is extended so more hostages can be freed and humanitarian assistance can be ferried into Gaza.