"Yarden Asks About Them, And I Have No Answers," A Sister’s Desperate Plea for the Return of the Bibas Family
The long-awaited return of Yarden Bibas was a bittersweet moment for his family. After enduring 484 days of unimaginable fear and uncertainty, Yarden’s release from Hamas captivity brought both relief and heartache. His sister, Ofri Bibas Levy, spoke on behalf of the family at Sheba Medical Center, her voice filled with emotion as she recounted their journey.


"Yarden's journey to recovery has only begun, and it's clear it won't be complete until his family—Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir—are home," Ofri said, her words reflecting the deep void that still remains in their hearts. While Yarden’s physical recovery will take time, it is his emotional journey that weighs most heavily on his family.
The release of Yarden has allowed the Bibas family to embrace him, but the joy of his return is overshadowed by the painful reality that his wife Shiri and children Ariel and Kfir are still held captive by Hamas. Yarden, a man known for his strength, resilience, and humor, now finds himself living with the scars of his captivity, including the trauma of not knowing the fate of his loved ones.
Ofri continued, "We endured 484 days of anxiety, fear, and uncertainty, and now Yarden is home. He's here, and we've rediscovered what we already knew—how strong and amazing he is. We learned how he survived hell while maintaining his sensitivity and characteristic humor. Our Yarden is finally home. We were overwhelmed with emotion to embrace him and know he's safe." But amidst the embrace, the question lingers—Where are Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir?
For Yarden, the emotional toll is immeasurable. As Ofri shared, “Yarden asks about them, and I have no answers for him.” The family’s heartbreak is compounded by the uncertainty, and Ofri cannot help but demand answers. “I demand that the Prime Minister and negotiating team provide him and us with answers—he deserves them after everything he's survived.”
In the midst of the pain, Ofri’s words express a sense of fierce determination: "Yarden is here, but we’re still very incomplete." The journey of recovery for the Bibas family will not be complete until Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir are home with them, and Ofri’s plea to the Israeli government is clear: “I’m sorry, Yarden, that it took so long. I’m sorry that you’re here while Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir are still not. We won’t give up on them. We won’t lose hope.”
The anguish doesn’t stop with Yarden’s immediate family. Dana Silberman Sitton, Shiri Bibas’ sister, shared her own painful story of loss. For 15 months, Dana lived in a nightmare after the kidnapping of her sister, Shiri, and her nephews, Ariel and Kfir, by Hamas. Despite the relief of Yarden’s return, Dana still feels the weight of her family’s absence. “Three-quarters of our heart is still in captivity. And until they bring them back, we'll remain incomplete,” Dana said, her words full of the grief of a sister and a mother longing for the return of her loved ones.
Dana’s emotional plea for answers echoes the voices of all families still awaiting the return of their loved ones. “We will no longer accept uncertainty. We demand answers. We demand them back,” she declared, holding the Israeli government accountable for the prolonged captivity of her sister and nephews. Dana’s frustration is palpable as she expresses the devastating reality: “The State has been failing for almost 16 months to bring them home. No more.”
The Bibas family’s struggle is not just a personal tragedy but a reflection of the broader fight for justice and the protection of every citizen. Dana’s appeal to the Israeli government is clear: “Complete the deal in all its phases. Until the last hostage. Don’t let extreme voices blow up the deal. This is our commitment as a people to see everyone return.”
Her final words are a call to unity, to hope, and to the commitment that no one will be left behind. The Bibas family’s journey, though marked by pain, also serves as a testament to the unbreakable bond of family and the relentless fight for the return of their loved ones.