Addressing the Neglected Voices: A Call to Remember the Child Hostages
Two young Israeli boys, Ariel and Kfir, remain hostages in Gaza, raising the question: Have the global parents overlooked their plight? Let's not forget the innocence caught in the midst of conflict.
We were naive.
Editor’s Note: Ofri Bibas Levy is the sister of Israeli hostage Yarden Bibas, who was taken from Kibbutz Nir Or on October 7, along with his wife Shiri Bibas and their two sons Ariel, 4, and Kfir, 1. The Bibas boys are the youngest hostages held in Gaza. The view expressed in this commentary are her own. Read more CNN Opinion.
When the footage of armed terrorists abducting two little redheaded boys and their mother on October 7th was viewed by countless people around the world, there was a sense of hope that the world's outrage would lead to the release of my nephews by Hamas.
Kfir and Ariel, aged 9 months and 4 years at the time of their abduction, are still being held captive in Gaza four-and-a-half months later. Kfir, who turned one while in captivity, has spent a significant portion of his young life under these circumstances.
We, their family members, are left in the dark about the fate of the boys - whether they are alive or dead, if they are receiving proper nourishment, and if they are together with or separated from their mother. My brother Yarden was torn apart from his wife Shiri and their children on October 7th, coerced by Hamas to appear in a distressing video claiming they were casualties of Israel's actions.
As time passes, I can't help but ponder: Have the parents worldwide forgotten about them? What if Ariel and Kfir were your own children, or your beloved nephews?
Ofri Bibas Levy with her nephew Ariel (left), now a hostage in Gaza, and her daughter (right).
Ofri Bibas Levy with her nephew Ariel (left), now a hostage in Gaza, and her daughter (right).
Taking children as hostages - has this now become the new normal in our world? It is no longer acceptable to engage in such barbaric acts. We firmly insist that in any hostage situation, the children should be the first to be released.
We should not have to wait for a deal with Hamas for Kfir and Ariel to be released. Innocent children should not be held captive in exchange for prisoners. Allowing a terrorist organization to dictate terms should never be acceptable, especially when it involves children being held hostage.
On October 7th, terrorists kidnapped nearly 40 babies, children, and teenagers. Ariel and Kfir, along with their mother Shiri, were meant to be released as part of a ceasefire deal in November. However, Hamas broke the agreement and kept the boys, their mother, and several other women. The question remains, why are our children being kept captive?
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Every day during the harrowing ceasefire deal in November, we anxiously awaited the return of Kfir, Ariel, and Shiri, our hearts pounding and stomachs churning. We had endured 55 agonizing days in this living nightmare. The daily uncertainty of who would be released and the delays in delivering the hostages added to the psychological torture inflicted upon us by Hamas.
Every morning, I wake up worried that I will hear more horrifying news. My four-year-old daughter asks me constantly when her best friend Ariel will come home. “Why can’t anybody find him?”, she asks me. I don’t know how to respond because I don’t know the answer myself. From one day to the next, it’s harder to remain optimistic.
Why are world leaders signaling to terrorists everywhere that it is okay to take children hostage? How do they not see that they are doing Hamas’s work by insisting that Israel agree to a ceasefire when 134 hostages remain in captivity? Releasing the hostages should have been the cry heard around the world since October 7th. Instead, the cry heard around the world is for a ceasefire, as if the lives of the hostages are an afterthought. I go to bed every night with the same question on my mind.
Before October 7th, I believed in a universal understanding that taking civilians hostage was never acceptable. However, that belief has been shattered as this red line has been crossed. Can we now establish a new red line around the abducting of innocent children? It is crucial for the world to take a stand against this heinous act.
The Bibas family: parents Yarden and Shiri, with their sons Kfir and Ariel.
Terror groups across the globe are closely observing the reactions, or lack thereof, to these abductions. Your response, or lack of response, speaks volumes to these groups. Your silence is not unnoticed, and they are keeping track of it.
The Bibas family: parents Yarden and Shiri, with their sons Kfir and Ariel.
Maurice Shnaider
A few days ago, a video of Kfir, Ariel and Shiri was released, revealing surveillance footage from October 7th in Gaza. It was the first time we had seen Shiri and the boys since the widely viewed October 7th footage. My heart broke once again as I watched terrorists forcing Shiri and her babies deep into Gaza, with Shiri barefoot in her pajamas, holding onto her baby boys.
We made the decision to share the distressing surveillance video publicly to ensure that the world does not turn a blind eye, does not forget, and does not accept this as the new normal. We believe that any ceasefire agreement should be dependent on the release of all the remaining 134 hostages, with priority given to the release of the children.
Hamas is obstructing the return of the abducted individuals, and we require assistance from the global community to compel Hamas to set them free, as we initially anticipated following the abduction of the children from their residences.
Hamas, with its political figures residing in opulence in Qatar and its military leaders suspected to be concealed in tunnels beneath Gaza, remains unpunished for this act of inhumanity. Terrorist groups worldwide are taking note of the world's lack of authority.
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I am pregnant, and I worry about the future of my unborn son. I fear that he may never have the chance to meet his uncle, aunt, and redheaded cousins. The thought of him being born into a world where child hostage situations are prevalent is terrifying. Despite these fears, I hold onto hope. Our family believes in the goodness of humanity. As you go about your daily routine, whether it's dropping your children off at school or nursery, or tucking them in at night, please take a moment to remember Kfir and Ariel Bibas. Consider their mother and father, who are enduring unimaginable pain as their family is held captive by heartless individuals.
We urgently need your assistance. It goes without saying that our children should not have to experience this kind of world. Take action by reaching out to your congressional representative and emphasizing the importance of prioritizing the hostages. Spread awareness about the hostages' situation on your social media platforms.
Editor's P/S:
This article is a heart-wrenching account of the ongoing hostage situation in Gaza, where two young boys, Kfir and Ariel, have been held captive for over four months. The author, Ofri Bibas Levy, is the sister of the hostage father, Yarden, and expresses her anguish and frustration over the world's inaction in securing their release.
Levy's plea for help exposes the failure of the international community to prioritize the lives of innocent children caught in political conflicts. The article highlights the moral bankruptcy of terrorist organizations like Hamas, who use children as bargaining chips and weapons of war. Levy's determination to expose the horrors inflicted upon her nephews and their family is a testament to the strength of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable cruelty.
