Israelis disregard Bibas, emblem of the fight for Hamas captives' freedom
In a sombre turn of events, the remains of Shiri Silberman Bibas, an Israeli of Argentine and Peruvian descent, along with her children Ariel (4 years old) and Kfir (9 months old), were returned to Israel last week following their abduction during the October 7, 2023 attacks at kibbutz Nir Oz. Forensic testing confirmed that Ariel and Kfir were murdered in captivity, a claim disputed by Hamas, who initially asserted they died in an Israeli airstrike.
The funeral for Shiri Silberman Bibas was held at kibbutz Nir Oz, near the Gaza Strip, with many mourners in attendance. Yarden Bibas, Shiri's husband and the father of the children, was also taken captive but was released during a prisoner exchange in February 2025.
Meanwhile, Oded Lifshitz, one of the founders of kibbutz Nir Oz, passed away and his remains were returned by Hamas last week. Lifshitz was a journalist and peace activist who dedicated his life to promoting dialogue and coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians.
As the community mourns these losses, negotiations for the ceasefire and the release of hostages continue. Jalil al-Haya, the Gaza leader and chief negotiator of Hamas, visited Cairo on Tuesday to discuss the implementation of the ceasefire, the prisoner exchange, and the prospects for the second phase of negotiations.
The second phase of the ceasefire, which includes sensitive issues such as the end of the war, the withdrawal of Israeli troops, and the future of Gaza, remains stalled. The delay in the release of prisoners is due to Hamas's "humiliating ceremonies" before the releases.
Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel stated that Israel is now seeking to expand the scope of the first phase to complete the release of all hostages. Steve Witkoff, the Trump administration's envoy to the Middle East, will travel to the region later this week to negotiate an extension of the first phase of the agreement.
In a gesture of remembrance, President Isaac Herzog lit up his official residence in Jerusalem in orange in memory of Shiri Silberman Bibas and the two minors. The swap of prisoners and hostages is scheduled to take place on Wednesday night at 10:00 PM. However, Netanyahu halted the release of 602 Palestinian prisoners scheduled for Saturday.
As the community of Nir Oz and the nation mourn, they also look towards the future, hoping for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict. Many people gathered in the Plaza of the Hostages in Tel Aviv to watch the live broadcast of the funeral, a testament to the impact these individuals had on their community and the nation as a whole. Hamas will also hand over the bodies of Tsahi Idan, Ohad Yahalomi, Itzik Elgarat, and Shlomo Mantzur on Wednesday night.
The ongoing negotiations for the ceasefire and the release of hostages, such as Shiri Silberman Bibas, her children Ariel and Kfir, and several others, are a key point in the general-news sphere. The average citizen, deeply affected by these events, including the average Israeli and Palestinian, looks towards the future with hope for a conclusion in the crime-and-justice arena and a resolution to the ongoing conflict.
