Fear Grows for Family Bibas as Israel Celebrates Recent Hostage Releases

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In Tel Aviv, hundreds gathered to celebrate the release of Agam Berger, the last of five Israeli soldiers taken hostage, amid rising concerns for the Bibas family, who have become a poignant symbol of the ongoing hostage crisis. The recent hostage exchange on January 30, 2025, involved the release of nine individuals: five Thai workers and two Israelis, including the 28-year-old civil hostage Arbel Yehud.

The exchange was not initially planned, following chaotic events over the weekend when the Hamas organization released four Israeli soldiers but withheld the Bibas family, believed to have been captured during a violent raid on October 7, 2023. Many expressed deep worries for Shiri Bibas and her two children, Kfir and Ariel, fearing they may not be alive. Margalit Bokritz, a concerned citizen, stated, “I hope that the Bibas family is alive... but unfortunately, it does not look good.”

The fate of the family remains uncertain, with conflicting reports about their condition. Israeli military officials have expressed concerns, demanding clarity from Hamas, but as of now, there has been no definitive information.

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