A 10-month-old baby boy, alongside his parents and 4-year-old brother, continues to be held captive by Hamas and are now in the hands of another Palestinian terror group, according to Israeli officials. The Bibas family, who were part of a group of 240 hostages taken by Hamas on Oct. 7, is now being held in the southern city of Khan Younis by the new group.
The identity of the group holding the family is not yet known, but the relatives of the Bibas family fear that the children are being held as a “trophy” and are demanding their immediate release ahead of the upcoming expiration of a temporary truce between Israel and Hamas.
According to Israeli Defense Forces spokesperson Avichay Adraee, the 10-month-old baby, Kfir, and his 4-year-old brother, Ariel, have not been able to see the light of day for over 50 days and are being treated as “spoils” by Hamas. Adraee also revealed that Hamas has a history of handing over young children to other terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip.
The Bibas family, including 10-months-old Kfir, 4-year-old Ariel and their mother Shiri were abducted by Hamas on October 7.
Hamas must be held accountable.
Hamas must release all hostages immediately. pic.twitter.com/aizQ6M0Yp2— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) November 29, 2023
The family of the captives, who are currently in a safe room waiting to be released, expressed their anguish over the situation, stating that “moments of great uncertainty” have left them “speechless.” The family also appealed to the Israeli government, as well as the countries involved in the negotiations and hostage release, to do everything in their power to secure the release of the Bibas family before the end of the temporary truce on Wednesday.
The family’s relatives have also described the latest development in the captivity as “just more psychological torture.” They fear for the well-being of the children, especially the 10-month-old who is still in need of formula as his main source of nutrition.
The Bibas family was kidnapped by Hamas on Oct. 7, and the children’s mother, kindergarten teacher Shiri Silberman-Bibas, was seen in a video being taken away while clutching her sons. The family’s relatives, including the baby’s aunt, Noah Abrahams, have described the entire ordeal as a “big nightmare.”
The news of the continued captivity of the Bibas family comes after the extension of the temporary truce agreement between Israel and Hamas for two more days. Hamas has also agreed to release at least 20 more hostages during this period, following the rules laid out in the initial four-day deal.
🚨𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚:
Hamas is now claiming that 10 month old hostage Kfir Bibas, his 4 year old brother Ariel and their mother Shiri have been KILLED.
The terror group are alleging the family were killed in an air strike days after Hamas gave the family away to another terror… pic.twitter.com/TEKBNx5Op4
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) November 29, 2023
In the past few days, Hamas has already released 11 hostages, including nine children as young as 3 years old. The Bibas family was not among those released, and their relatives are calling for their inclusion in the exchange before the truce expires.
The Israeli government has yet to comment on the latest development, but with the expiration of the truce approaching, time may be running out for the Bibas family to be reunited. As the world watches the situation unfold, the fate of this young family hangs in the balance.
