Bibas family demands Israeli government stops using captives' deaths in public

Relatives of the two Israeli babies and their mother who died while being held captive in Gaza have publicly demanded that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government cease exploiting their deaths for political gain. This appeal reflects the family's strong dissatisfaction with the government's actions, as they believe their loved ones' tragedy is being inappropriately used. The family's plea highlights the ethical concerns surrounding the politicization of such sensitive and painful events.

Shiri Bibas and her children, four-year-old Ariel and nine-month-old Kfir, were kidnapped by the "Mujahideen Brigades," an armed group active in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, during the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Hamas claimed that they were killed in an Israeli airstrike in November 2023. Shiri's husband, Yarden Bibas, was released in the first phase of the ceasefire agreement reached between Hamas and Israel last month. The circumstances surrounding the Bibas family's capture and alleged death remain highly contentious and emotionally charged.

Last week, Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari stated that Israeli intelligence indicated they were dead, but this was not disclosed to the public, despite Israel's repeated demands for the family's safe return. He also denied that they died in an Israeli airstrike, claiming they were "killed by hand," but provided no further details or evidence. Middle East Eye has been unable to independently verify the circumstances of the children's deaths. The lack of transparency and conflicting narratives surrounding the event have fueled further speculation and grief.

Yarden Bibas's sister, Ofri Bibas, vehemently criticized Netanyahu on Facebook on Tuesday, accusing him of repeatedly mentioning the deaths of Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir and releasing classified information. Speaking on behalf of the Bibas family, she stated: "If I could say one thing to everyone on behalf of the Bibas family, it would be to please shut up." In a recorded address to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee on Tuesday, Netanyahu detailed the circumstances of the three deaths, disregarding the family's wishes. He also mentioned the family during a speech at a military ceremony on Sunday and held up their photos. The family's frustration with Netanyahu's actions underscores the emotional toll of the tragedy and the desire for privacy.

According to Ynet, the Bibas family has issued a cease and desist letter demanding that the Prime Minister and other government officials and institutions stop publishing information about them. The Bibas family's lawyer, Dana Pugach, contacted several officials on Monday, including those from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, senior military officers, and Netanyahu, emphasizing that only the family can release details about the deaths. She stated: "The family must not be forced to allow the exploitation of these murders for so-called public purposes." Ofri Bibas said in her post that revealing details about the family's cause of death was "abusing a family that has been through 16 months of hell, and worse is yet to come, for its own interests." The family's legal action highlights their determination to protect their privacy and prevent further exploitation of their tragedy.

In a statement released on Saturday through the "Hostages and Missing Families Forum," the family also requested that the media "stop adding details to the fact that Shiri and the children were murdered by their captors." According to The Times of Israel, the Bibas family also requested that government representatives not attend the funeral held on Wednesday, which was attended by thousands of members of the public. The family's plea for privacy and control over the narrative surrounding the deaths underscores the immense grief and trauma they are experiencing.