Yarden Bibas was one of three Israeli hostages freed by Hamas today but his wife Shiri and sons Ariel, five, and Kfir, two, were not by his side – their captors claim they were killed in an Israeli airstrike
It might have been a quiet embrace but it was a moment that spoke loudly of one family’s great suffering.
Yarden Bibas, one of three Israeli hostages freed by Hamas today after 15 months’ captivity, was back in his mother’s arms. Yet the 35-year-old’s wife Shiri and sons Ariel, five, and Kfir, two, were not by his side – their captors claim they were killed in an Israeli airstrike. In an emotional statement, the Bibas family told how “a quarter of our heart has returned to us”.
American-Israeli Keith Siegel, 65, and French-Israeli citizen Ofer Kalderon, 54, were also released in Gaza today. The trio were among about 250 taken hostage in Hamas’ October 7 massacre. Meanwhile, Israel released 183 Palestinian prisoners in the latest round of exchanges after a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.
A delighted Aviva Siegel was filmed leaving to be reunited with her husband Keith. She was herself a hostage before being freed in November 2023 and has since campaigned around the world for her husband’s release. And in joyous scenes, Ofer was filmed being reunited with his delighted family. His ex-wife Hadas and two kids were also kidnapped – they were freed in November in 2023.
In the occupied West Bank, frenzied crowds thronged the Red Cross bus carrying the Palestinians from Israel’s Ofer prison near Ramallah. Supporters lifted the 25 freed prisoners into the air, crying, “God is greater!” and “Victory to God!” Women wept as they pulled their long absent husbands into hugs.
Others arrived in a convoy to the European Hospital in Khan Younis in Gaza, where scores of relatives, friends waited. The ex-prisoners stuck their heads out dusty bus windows, waving excitedly to familiar faces in the crowds. Some grasped the outstretched hands of their loved ones who were hoisted onto shoulders of onlookers
The truce, which began on January 19, is aimed at winding down the war – with the fragile deal holding for almost a fortnight, halting the fighting and allowing increased aid to flow. A total of 33 Israeli hostages are expected to be freed in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners during the truce’s initial six weeks.
In a statement, the Bibas family reportedly said: “Yarden is home. A quarter of our heart has returned to us after 15 long months. There are no words to describe the relief of holding Yarden in our hands, embracing him, and hearing his voice. Yarden has returned home, but the home remains incomplete.”
“Yarden is a father who left his safe room to protect his family, bravely survived captivity, and returned to an unbearable reality,” it added.
French President Emmanuel Macron hailed the release of Ofer, while noting that another of the country’s citizens remains a hostage. “Ofer Kalderon is free! We share the immense relief and joy of his family after 483 days of unimaginable hell,” he posted on X. “Our thoughts are with Ohad Yahalomi, still in the hands of Hamas, and his family. France is doing everything in its power to secure his immediate release.”
