Yarden Bibas Eulogizes to His Family at the Funeral of his wife Shiri and his sons Ariel and Kfir

The funeral of Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas, who were kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz during the October 7 massacre and murdered in captivity, took place at the Zohar cemetery in the Eshkol region. Tens of thousands of Israelis gathered to pay their respects as the funeral procession made its way from Rishon LeZion to the Sha'ar Negev intersection.

Yarden Bibas, who returned from Hamas captivity this month, delivered a heartfelt eulogy, honoring his wife Shiri and their two young children.

“I love you. you are the best mother there is,” Yarden said emotionally at the cemetery. “Who will help me make decisions now? How am I supposed to make decisions without you?” He recalled their last conversation during the MMD, where Shiri encouraged him to “fight” instead of surrender. He added, “Shiri, I’m sorry I wasn’t able to protect you. If only I had known what would happen, I would not have shot.”

Yarden spoke about the joy and good memories he shared with Shiri, especially their children’s births. “Shiri, I miss your presence very much. I want to tell you everything that is happening in Israel and the world. Shiri, everyone loves us; you don’t understand. Please stay by my side and don’t go far.”

As he honored his children, Yarden shared memories of their births. “To our little son Kfir, I did not think our family could be more perfect until you came,” he said with tears in his eyes. “You made it even more perfect.”

Tributes and Messages of Strength

At the cemetery, Dana Seton Silverman, Shiri’s sister, addressed the crowd, saying, “I want to ask you for forgiveness on behalf of our leadership and army for not being there for you that day, and for taking so long to return you to your land.” She then promised her late sister, “I promise you that the monsters beyond the fence will not succeed in their mission. They will not subdue us, they will not break us. On the contrary, their mission failed because we united.”

Yarden’s sister, Ofri Bivas Levy, shared her own thoughts, saying, “The blame is not on them. This disaster shouldn’t have happened. You shouldn’t have been taken, and you should have come back alive.” She stressed that forgiveness cannot come before an investigation into the omissions and the accountability of those in positions of power.

A Family’s Last Goodbye

The ceremony was hosted by Carmit Palti Katzir, whose family members were also victims of the October 7 attacks. She thanked the Israeli public for their support, stating, “We feel the love and support of all of you since October 7th until these moments.”

Michal Uziahu, head of the Eshkol Regional Council, praised Yarden for his heroism and sacrifice. “Yarden, in an act of supreme heroism, you gave yourself to the murderers in an attempt to save your family. You embody human nobility,” Uziahu said.

The funeral ended with the playing of the song "Hold on to Memories," chosen by Yarden himself as a tribute to his family’s memory.

A Nation in Mourning

The funeral procession, which began in Rishon LeZion, was accompanied by the people of Israel as it made its way through various locations. The Bibas family expressed their gratitude, saying, “We began the funeral procession, accompanied by the people of Israel in droves. We see and hear you, are moved and strengthened by you.”

This emotional ceremony marked the beginning of a painful chapter of closure for the Bibas family, as Israel continues to mourn the victims of the October 7 massacre.