Fears for youngest Hamas captives Kfir & Ariel Bibas, 2 & 5, after they weren’t among 4 Israeli hostages released today

Concerns have escalated regarding the well-being of the youngest Israeli hostages who are still in captivation as they were not part of the group of four hostages released in the recent prisoner exchange.

The Bibas siblings, Kfir and Ariel, aged only two and five, were abducted by Hamas militants. Their family is distressed as they have no information on whether the children are alive or deceased.

Screengrab of a mother holding her two young sons, hostages of the Hamas attack in Israel.
Mum Shiri Bibas was seen desperately clutching to Kfir and his brother Ariel as they were kidnapped on October 7Credit: Ian Whittaker
A young boy plays with a game on the floor.
Ariel Bibas pictured before the was kidnapped by HamasCredit: Ian Whittaker
Family in Batman pajamas.
Yarden and Shiri Bibas with their two young boys before the family became hostagesCredit: Supplied
Illustration of a three-phase peace deal for the Middle East, showing ceasefire, hostage release, and border details.

The siblings, along with their parents Yarden and Shiri, are included in the list of hostages designated for release during the initial six-week period of the delicate ceasefire agreement.

Despite this, relatives have received no information since the ceasefire began on Sunday – the day after Kfir’s second birthday.

Hamas was blasted by the IDF as they accused the militant group of breaking the ceasefire agreement by releasing four female IDF soldiers today.

Spokesman Daniel Hagari said: “Hamas did not abide by its obligation in the deal to free civilian women first.”

Hagari also vowed Israel would do all it could to bring the boys and Shiri back home soon.

The spokesman emphasized the growing fear surrounding the health of this family as he said: “We have heavy concerns for their fate.”

Israel said they expect to hear more about the captive family soon.

Despite this, the Bibas family’s relatives said their “world came crashing down” when they discovered the boys and their parents were left off the second hostage release list, according to The Times of Israel.

In a heartwrenching statement, the family called on local media to not forget about “our pain, our struggle, and, most importantly, the crucial discussion about the complexity and tragedy of them not being on the list.”

The family added: “Does the grave concern for their lives cancel out the fact that they are civilians in captivity who must be brought home?”

The Bibas family tragedy – agony over fate of mum and young boys snatched by Hamas killer gang

“Does the grave concern for Shiri’s life mean that there is no longer a need to display her photo as a kidnapped civilian in Gaza whose fate remains unknown?”

The family also recently revealed they have no idea if the young boys are dead or alive, after no proof of life has been provided by Hamas.

In November 2023, Hamas published a video of Yarden Bibas being told his wife and children had been killed.

Hamas said they were killed in an IDF air strike on Khan Younis, in southern Gaza.

However, Hamas is known to have lied about deaths in the past as a form of psychological torture – so there the situation is still unclear.

Their loved ones have shared the anguish and heartbreak they have faced for the past 477 days.

Ofri Bibas-Levy, the aunt of the brothers, told NBC News: “Not knowing is so hard that sometimes I want to scream.

“Just tell me, even if it’s the worst, I just want to know.

Yarden Bibas in a Hamas video, mourning his family.
Hamas published a video of Yarden Bibas being told his wife and children had been killed in 2023Credit: Hamas Military Wing
Protestors holding signs demanding the release of a family held hostage.
People gather on Ariel’s fifth birthday to call for the liberation of him and his familyCredit: AFP
A father holding his young son, both hostages in the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.
Yarden Bibas holding his son Ariel when he was four years oldCredit: Ian Whittaker

“Not knowing, I can’t start any kind of healing, I can’t start recovering – I’m stuck,” she said, clutching a special recreation of the pink elephant toy that features in Kfir’s most famous picture.

SECOND EXCHANGE

The second phase of the first six weeks of hostage exchanges between Hamas and Israel was conducted today.

Four IDF soldiers were emotionally freed after 477 brutal days of hell.

Karina Ariev, 20, Daniela Gilboa, 20, Naama Levy, 20, and Liri Elbag, 19, were handed over to the Red Cross and have been taken back home.

They were escorted by mask-wearing and gun-wielding Hamas terrorists as huge crowds watched the historic moment at a square in Gaza City.

Hamas militants hand over Israeli hostages to the Red Cross.
Four Israeli hostages were escorted to Red Cross officials by gun-wielding Hamas officials on SaturdayCredit: AFP
Posters of four Israeli women hostages: Liri Albag, Naama Levy, Karina Ariev, and Daniella Gilboa.
The girls were kidnapped from Israel’s Nahal Oz military base on October 7, 2023Credit: AFP
A released Israeli hostage reunited with her family.
Liri Albag reunited with family in Reim in southern Israel on SaturdayCredit: AFP

The women were seen waving from a stage before being handed over to the Red Cross, who drove them to safety.

The four young women were horrifically kidnapped from Israel’s Nahal Oz military base on October 7, 2023.

Terrifying footage released by Hamas at the time showed the girls covered in blood as they were tied up in front of murderous invaders.

The young soldiers were also pushed up against a wall as a militant screamed “take pictures of them”.

A released Israeli hostage is reunited with her family.
Karina Ariev hugged her parents as she saw them for the first time in over a yearCredit: AFP
A released Israeli hostage reunited with her family.
Daniela Gilboa reunited with her family at an army screening point after she was releasedCredit: AFP
A released Israeli hostage is reunited with her family.
Former hostage Naama Levy reconciled with family after the second hostage-prisoner swap was carried outCredit: AFP
Four Israeli hostages waving and giving thumbs up after being released by Hamas.
Hostages Naama Levy, Liri Albag, Daniella Gilboa, and Karina Ariev were handed over in Gaza CityCredit: AFP
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