'The smallest coffins are the heaviest': Israel grieves youngest hostages

On October 7th of last year, Kfir and Ariel Bibas were last seen when their mother, Shiri, held them tightly, surrounded by armed militants and violence, as she tried to protect her children, but ultimately failed. According to the Israeli military, Kfir and Ariel spent their final days in the hands of their captors, a tragic end to their young lives.

How does one mourn children who barely lived? Kfir Bibas, only nine months old, was taken hostage, never living to take his first steps or celebrate his first birthday. Ariel Bibas experienced only four years of life, and he should have had so much more. Their premature deaths are a stark reminder of the brutality of the situation.

Kibbutz Nir Oz, where the Bibas brothers were kidnapped, issued a statement describing Kfir as a "calm and smiling baby with ginger hair, whose laughter could melt anyone's heart. His smile and joy would light up wherever he went." They said Ariel was a "playful boy with ginger hair, curious eyes, and a big smile. He loved superheroes, tractors, and cars, constantly running, climbing, and exploring the world."

The brothers became the ultimate symbol of the hostage nightmare that Israelis are experiencing. Bringing the Bibas family home was the fervent hope of the nation. For the past 16 months, people have remembered them, prayed for them, and held them in their hearts, not only in Israel but among Jews and others around the world. People shared photos of the brothers dressed as Batman, Ariel's cape billowing in the wind; photos of older brother Ariel hugging newborn Kfir; and photos of Kfir giggling as his father, Yarden, played with him. Since Hamas launched its attack on October 7, one image has been seared into people's minds: the brothers clinging to their mother, Shiri Bibas, her face filled with terror, as they were surrounded by armed militants and taken to Gaza.

No one in Israel wanted to see such an ending: Kfir and Ariel returning, not to their innocent childhood, but with their tender years already over. And the mother who protected them until the last moment did not even return with them. In Israel, people felt a shared pain and sorrow. The Israeli Prime Minister said in a video statement that Ariel and Kfir Bibas, along with 84-year-old Oded Lifschitz (whose body was also returned on Thursday), were "brutally murdered by Hamas barbarians."

Holding up photos of the brothers, Benjamin Netanyahu said, "Today is a tragic day. It is a day filled with infinite sadness, with indescribable pain. Their bodies have returned to a mourning nation. A nation that will never forget and will never forgive the evil that took these beautiful souls... The Bibas children, in particular, have become a symbol of who we are and who we are fighting against." Netanyahu said, "Who would kidnap a little boy and a baby and murder them? Monsters. That's who."

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said in a statement, "Pain. Grief. Our hearts – the heart of the entire nation – are shattered into pieces." He asked for forgiveness on behalf of the nation for failing to protect them and bring them home. Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas were 32, 4, and 9 months old, respectively, when they were kidnapped in the October 7 attack. About 1,200 people (mostly civilians) were killed in the attack, and another 251 were taken to Gaza as hostages. In response, Israel launched a massive military operation against Hamas, which, according to the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health, has killed at least 48,297 Palestinians, mostly civilians.

This week, in Israel and abroad, people posted broken orange heart images on social media to represent the boys with striking ginger hair. On Thursday, as the vehicles carrying the remains of the Bibas children and Oded Lifschitz entered Israel, people lined the streets waving Israeli flags and shouting "We are sorry." In October 2023, weeks after they were kidnapped, the Bibas brothers' aunt was interviewed by the BBC.

Ofri Bibas Levy described Kfir as just starting to crawl and eat solid foods. "They are civilians and shouldn't be there. The longer they are there, the harder it is to get them back, and the less chance they have of returning alive," she said. On Friday, she wrote on Facebook: "I'm sorry, Luli [Ariel], I'm sorry, Firfir [Kfir]. You shouldn't have suffered all this. We will miss you forever. We will not give up on your mother, Shiri."

She added in a video statement: "Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir were captured alive by a murderous terrorist organization, and Israel has a responsibility and obligation to bring them back alive. There is no excuse for abandoning them on October 7 and for abandoning them during their captivity. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in this moment of pain, we have not received your apology. For the sake of Ariel and Kfir, and for the sake of Yarden, we are not seeking revenge now. We demand the release of Shiri."

Yarden Bibas was only recently released as a hostage and now must bury his two young sons, while his wife, Shiri, remains unreleased by Hamas. In Israel, people are quoting the heartbreaking words: "The smallest coffins are the heaviest."