The Bibas Family’s Tearful Response to Purim’s Most Poignant Tributes

In a land where joy and sorrow dance a fragile waltz, this Purim Eve carries a bittersweet echo that resonates deep within the soul of Israel. Across the country, children—wide-eyed boys and girls—donned costumes not for mere celebration, but as a haunting tribute to Kfir and Ariel Bibas HY"D, the innocent souls stolen by Hamas’s brutality and returned to their homeland in the latest agonizing deal. Tonight, their family speaks, their words trembling with grief, gratitude, and an unyielding flicker of hope.

"Our hearts skipped a beat twice today," the family said. "Once when we woke up to a morning without new pictures of Ariel and Kfir in costumes, and again when we saw all the incredible tributes in the streets of Israel.

"Again and again, over nearly a year and a half, and especially in recent weeks, you show us that Ariel and Kfir will never leave us. They are in the heart of the nation and will always remain there. Those who were a symbol of Hamas’s cruelty have now become a symbol of the unity and hope of the people of Israel."

The family added: "Just as we were moved to see the costumes, we were equally moved to see you at the funeral procession, during the shiva, and when we saw you calling for the continued return of the remaining hostages in captivity. Thank you, our dear people of Israel."

They signed: "For the sake of Ariel, Kfir, and Shiri – please continue calling for the return of the 59 hostages who remain in captivity, including Yarden’s best friend, David Cunio, and his brother Ariel Cunio. Until everyone is home. We love you more than anything, always."

Captured in a moment that pierces the silence, Yarden Bibas stood tall, clutching a sign that screamed a desperate plea to the heavens: "David and Ariel Cunio can still be saved!" His weathered hands gripped the words like a lifeline, a father’s cry for the living amid the echoes of the lost.

As fighter jets roar into the sky and tensions simmer on distant fronts, this is Israel tonight: a nation united in mourning, in memory, and in an unshakable hope that refuses to bow.