The father of the youngest hostages taken on October 7 was released from the claws of Hamas – although his missing children and wife have not been updated.
Yarden Bibas is the father of Baby Kfir, who was only nine months old when he was abducted, and Ariel, who was only four at the time of the attack.
There was no word about the fate of KFIR and Ariel, or on their mother Shiri, who was taken at the same time.
Hamas said at the end of 2023 that they were killed by Israeli bombing, but Israel did not officially confirm their death.
Bibas was released early this morning on the Red Cross in a ceremony in the city of Khan Younis next to Operer Kalderon, a French-Israeli double national, in the final phase of the phased exchange of hostages between the controversial regions.
Each climbed on a stage and waved to spectators. Armed Hamas militants formed a line that led to the stage in an ordered transfer, a contrast with the chaotic crowd that had surrounded hostages during a transfer Thursday, which made Israel angry.
The US-Israeli double national Keith Siegel is expected to be transferred. It is expected that he will be released in the north of the country.
He was seen in a video released by Hamas last year. His wife was released in November 2023 in the first hostage-for-prisoner exchange.
Orer Kalderon's two children Erez and Sahar, abducted next to him, were also released in the first exchange.
From Israel it is expected to convey 182 Palestinian prisoners and prisoners, Hamas said, while wounded Palestinians are expected to leave Gaza to Egypt via the Rafah Crossing.
Yarden Bibas is the father of Baby Kfir, who was only nine months old when he was abducted, and Ariel, who was only four at the time of the attack
Yarden Bibas, 34, who has been held hostage since October 7, 2023 by Hamas in Gaza, is accompanied by Hamas hunters before being transferred to the Red Cross in Khan Younis
Or Kalderon, a French-Israeli dual national, was released in the final phase of the phased exchange of hostages between the controversial regions
Of Kalderon's two children Erez and Sahar, abducted next to him, were also released in the first exchange
Collect photo from the Bibas family of Baby Kfir Bibas, and mother Shiri, brother Ariel, and father Yarden, hostage in Gaza
Keith Siegel, who was held hostage with his wife Aviva, and will now be liberated on Saturday
It was the only starting point for Palestinians during the war before Israel closed it in May. A civil mission of the European Union was deployed on Friday to prepare for the reopening of the intersection.
Hamas previously claimed that Shiri, Ariel and Kfir Bibas were killed in an Israeli bombing.
Israel said it assessed the claim in November 2023, but has not confirmed the death of the mother and sons so far.
At the time, Terrorgroep Hamas released a horrible video and had Yarden break down after he was told that his wife and sons were dead.
Hamas offered no evidence to support his claims and the defense forces of Israel shot the sick video as 'psychological terror'.
In a TV interview in June, the then Israeli minister Benny Gantz suggested that the government knew what had happened to the Bibas family, but that it could not yet provide details.
Israel has not officially confirmed the death of the two boys and their mother, but has pronounced 'serious concern' for their fate.
There are no proof-of-life videos from Shiri or her sons since their kidnapping on October 7, 2023.
Gruesome video of the mother and her two young boys who were taken away by the terrorists were met horror worldwide because of her visible suffering.
The image of the two young boys who were worn by their crying mother, Shiri, because they were marusted from their houses
KFIR Bibas, when only nine months old, was abducted on October 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists stormed the NIR OZ Kibbutz in southern Israel where KFIR lived with his older brother Ariel, their mother Shiri and father Yarden
The ceasefire, which started on January 19, is aimed at slinding the deadliest and most destructive war ever fought between Israel and the Militant group of Hamas.
The fragile deal has held almost two weeks, so that the fighting is stopped and more help can be put to flow to the small coastal area.
Hamas said this week that only 25 of the 33 hostages who intend to release it are still alive. They will be released in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners during the first six weeks of the truce.
The 33 names on the list are women, the Biba's family children, men from older than 50 and unwell and wounded men.
Israel has accused Hamas of 'psychological terror' for calling the hostages, but not really confirming whether they live.
Whether hostages were alive or dead in Gaza was a heartbreaking question for waiting families who forced the Israeli government to reach a deal to free them, for fear that that time was up.
Yarden Bibas, an Israeli hostage agent who was abducted in the fatal attack of 7 October 2023 by Hamas
Or Kalderon, an Israeli hostage agent who was abducted in the fatal attack on October 7, 2023 by Hamas
Family of Israeli hostage agent Van Meer Kalderon responds while watching the broadcast of him released from Hamas Captivity
Looking from Kfra Saba, South Israel, the family could be seen cheering and falling apart into tears while watching the sight
90 hostages are still being held and the Israeli authorities believe that between one and a half and a half of them was killed in the first attack or died in captivity.
An Israeli general revealed Monday that some of the hostages released from Gaza so far during the ceasefire -the fires in Hamas -tunnels were held for a maximum of eight months in a row, robbed of daylight and with little to no human contact.
Three Israeli civilians and four soldiers – all women – have so far been released in the ceasefire – the fire, and in exchange, Israel has released 290 Palestinian convicts and prisoners.
“Some of them told us that they have been in recent months that they have experienced all the time, in tunnels, underground,” Vice chef said of the Medical Corps of the Israeli army, Colonel Dr. Avi Banov, to journalists online.
“Some of them were only all the time they were there,” he said.
“Those who said they were together were better in shape.”
The hostages said that their treatment improved in the days prior to their release, said Banov, when they were allowed to shower, change their clothes and got better food.
(From left to right) Israeli hostage Naamta Levy, Liri Albag, Daniella Gilboa and Karina Ariev are on a stage before being delivered to the representative of the Red Cross International Committee
They seemed to be in good condition and smile in videos on the days of their release.
With reference to the privacy of the hostages, Banov would not say or one of the seven bore drawing of torture or abuse.
Some had not received good treatment for wounds when they were caught during the attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, and some showed signs of 'mild hunger', said Banov.
Earlier this month, the Staken-Fires reached the end of the 15-month war after more than a year of negotiations, which was activated by the first Hamas attack in 2023, as well as liberating hostages who were still held in Gaza In exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
The first phase of the ceases -the Fire runs until the beginning of March, but the second and much more difficult phase still has to be negotiated.
The conversations on phase two start next Monday.
Hamas has said that it will not release the remaining hostages without putting an end to the war, while Israel has threatened to resume his offensive until Hamas is destroyed.
