IDF Eliminates Hamas Terrorist Behind Yarden Bibas Kidnapping

The IDF released the following statement today (Tuesday) regarding the elimination of a Hamas terrorist who participated in the kidnapping of Yarden Bibas, head of the Bibas family and the sole surviving member, the others having been murdered by Hamas terrorists shortly after they were kidnapped on October 7:

"The IDF and ISA, with direction from the southern command, struck and eliminated on August 10th, 2025, the terrorist Jihad Kamal Salem Najjar, a terrorist in Hamas' military wing.

"The terrorist infiltrated Kibbutz Nir Oz during the brutal October 7th massacre and took part in the abduction of Yarden Bibas.

"The IDF and ISA will continue to operate against the terrorists who took part in the brutal October 7th massacre."

In a moment that captured the raw emotion of resilience and solidarity, David Draiman, the fiery frontman of heavy metal band Disturbed, met Yarden Bibas during a deeply personal visit to Israel previously. Draiman, a proud Jew whose vocal support for Israel has stirred both admiration and controversy, called Bibas “one of the sweetest and purest human beings on Earth” in a tear-jerking Instagram post that resonated with thousands.

Bibas, whose life was shattered on October 7, 2023, when he was abducted by Hamas, returned to a nightmare: his beloved wife, Shiri, and their two young sons, Ariel and Kfir, had been kidnapped and brutally murdered. At their funeral, Bibas chose Disturbed’s haunting ballad *Hold On to Memories* to honor their lives, a choice that struck a chord with Draiman. The song, played as mourners wept, carried Bibas’ plea: “Live your lives to the fullest, hold every moment close to keep them alive. The greatest tragedy is when souls are forgotten.”

Draiman, in Israel to be by his mother’s side as she battles stage 4 cancer, shared a photo with Bibas, his words dripping with empathy: “This man is the embodiment of strength and resilience. Anything, anytime, anywhere, achi,” he wrote, using the Hebrew word for brother. In a follow-up video, wearing a Star of David necklace etched with Israel’s outline, he spoke directly to Bibas: “All of Israel wept with you today. Am Yisrael Chai.” The post, shared with his hundreds of thousands of followers, became a beacon of unity in a time of grief.

No stranger to standing tall amid adversity, Draiman has faced boos and backlash at global performances—like Black Sabbath’s farewell concert in Birmingham—for his unapologetic defense of Israel. Yet, he remains steadfast, declaring, “The Star of David isn’t just a necklace—it’s who I am. I’ll never back down.” His meeting with Bibas, a man who carries unimaginable loss with quiet dignity, underscores the power of music and shared humanity to heal wounds and defy hate.