The Funeral

Thousands in Israel stand silently for the Bibas funeral procession….

An entire nation mourns.Israel mourns as Shiri, Ariel and Kfir Bibas are laid to rest in emotional funeral.

For the baby who never had a birthday.

For the little Batman.

For their Mom. pic.twitter.com/q0NztJMz5S

— miha schwartzenberg (@mihaschw) February 26, 2025

Yarden Bibas at the funeral of his wife and children:

“Shiri, please protect me from bad choices and harm, shield me from danger, and guard me from myself so I won’t sink into darkness. I’m sorry that I didn’t succeed in protecting you.”

pic.twitter.com/cJ4tXxMCdX

— Vivid. (@VividProwess) February 26, 2025

Israel mourns as Shiri, Ariel and Kfir Bibas are laid to rest in emotional funeral

Family buried at Tzohar Cemetery after more than 500 days in Gaza captivity; Yarden Bibas: ‘I hope you’re not angry with me for not being there when you needed me most’

By: YNet News, February 28, 2025:

Shiri Bibas and her two sons, Ariel and Kfir, abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7 and murdered in captivity, were laid to rest on Wednesday in an emotional ceremony.
Yarden Bibas, Shiri’s husband and the boys’ father, bid them farewell in a tearful eulogy:

Standing before their coffins, Bibas recounted their final moments together in the safe room of their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7. “I asked you, ‘Do we fight or surrender?’ You told me, ‘We fight.’ So I fought,” he said, his voice breaking. “Shiri, I am sorry I couldn’t protect you.”

He recalled the love and laughter that filled their home, reminiscing about the births of Ariel, 4, and Kfir, who was just nine months old. “Ariel, you made me a father. You taught me what really matters in life,” Bibas said. “I hope you’re not angry with me for not being there when you needed me most.” He spoke directly to Kfir, remembering how the midwife had paused during his delivery just to announce, “Another redhead!”—bringing joy and laughter to his parents.

“You made our family even more perfect,” Bibas said. “I miss your laugh, your smile, our morning games before work.”
He expressed gratitude for the support he had received but admitted that nothing could replace his family. “People tell me they’ll always be there for me, but they are not you,” he said. “Please, stay close to me. Don’t go too far.”
Yarden Bibas’ sister Ofri Bibas-Levy also mourned her sister-in-law and nephews: “I didn’t hope to see you again like this. How do you even begin to say goodbye? How can it be that you’re no longer here?” she said. “Shiri, you were the perfect partner for Yarden. I couldn’t have asked for anyone better for him — loving, sensitive, caring, pampering, calming. The strength you gave him all these years is now what we’re drawing from.”
“Luli [Ariel], how I miss you — your shyness, your playfulness, your sweetness, your smile. Kfir, I will never have a replacement for the time I didn’t get to have with you. We had no time at all. I didn’t even get to buy you a first birthday gift.
“There’s no meaning to apologies before the failures are investigated and those responsible are held accountable. They could have saved you, but they chose revenge.”