Yarden Bibas with his sister on a military helicopter heading home after being released from Hamas captivity (Photo: Maayan Toaf/GPO)
Early reports from the three hostages who returned to Israel yesterday – Keith Siegel, Ofer Calderon and Yarden Bibas – indicate they were mistreated and abused by Hamas during their captivity.
All three said they were moved frequently, not given sufficient amounts of food, and were mistreated by their captors. Calderon and Bibas said that in the first days of their captivity in Gaza, they were kept together in Khan Younis. They described being beaten, locked in cages, and physically and mentally abused for many days.
As with Siegel, both Calderon and Bibas were moved frequently, spending some of their time above ground in houses, and other times being kept in Hamas tunnels under Gaza.
According to the Saudi Arabian newspaper Ashram al-Awsat, when Hamas decided to move the hostages, they would dress them as Arab women to avoid attracting attention.
Bibas was abducted separately from his wife, Shiri, and children Ariel and Kfir. When his Nir Oz was attacked, Yarden went out with several of the men to help defend the community, and was not at home when terrorists entered the home and abducted Shiri and the boys into Gaza.
Nili Margarit, one of the women who returned during the first hostage release in November 2023, said she was with Yarden the moment he was told that Shiri and the boys had been killed in an Israeli airstrike.
Israel has not verified Hamas’ claim that Bibas’ wife and children were killed, but Israel Defense Forces (IDF) expressed “grave concern” for their fate, demanding that Hamas give clear evidence of their situation.
Following his return to Israel on Saturday, public broadcaster Kan 11 reported that Hamas psychologically abused Yarden, often speaking to him about his wife and sons. At one point, Hamas forced Bibas to record a video immediately after telling him that his family had been killed. The video was not shown by Israeli media, as it was believed to be propaganda, designed to increase pressure on the Israeli government.
During captivity, Bibas, along with Calderon, learned Arabic from their captors and from viewing Al Jazeera broadcasts, which they were forced to watch.
Bibas’ difficult psychological situation could be seen in the video of his release. Unlike several others of the freed hostages, who managed to smile when being presented to the Red Cross for transfer, Bibas looked concerned. His first recorded smile only came after meeting his relatives upon returning to Israeli territory.
Bibas’ relatives expressed the difficult situation he faces despite his release, saying, “Yarden is home. A quarter of our heart has returned after 15 long months. Words cannot describe the relief of holding him again, hearing his voice. But the home is incomplete. Yarden is a father who left his shelter to protect his family, survived captivity with immense bravery and has now returned to a unbearable reality.”
While the family was thankful for all who have campaigned for the Bibas family’s release, they asked the media and the public to respect Yarden’s need for privacy during this difficult time.
“Please give him the space he needs for his body and soul to begin healing,” the family said in a statement from the hospital after his arrival.
“Thank you to our incredible people, to our soldiers and to those who sacrificed their lives to make this day possible. We will take time to reunite with Yarden, but our fight continues. Shiri, Ariel and Kfir must come home, along with all the hostages. Please amplify their voices, now more than ever. For Yarden, for all of them – we will not stop until they are home.”
While Hamas has previously lied about the status of hostages, including stating that the IDF observer Daniella Gilboa had been killed before releasing her alive last week, the government and the military spokesman have not indicated whether Shiri and the boys could still be alive.
Speaking to Ynet earlier this week, Yarden’s sister, Ofri Bibas-Levi said the family was preparing for more uncertainty.
“We aren’t making preparations – at most, we are thinking practically about logistics. But there’s no home to return to. One phase ends, another begins, filled with unknowns. That’s terrifying,” she said.
