A Nation in Mourning
After days of national grief and sorrow, Shiri Bibas and her two young children, Kfir and Ariel, are being laid to rest today (Wednesday). The funeral procession began at 7:45 AM (Israel time) from the city of Rishon LeZion, traveling along several major routes in southern Israel before concluding at the Sha’ar HaNegev junction.
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A Nationwide Funeral Procession: Widespread Public Participation
The Bibas family and the Hostages and Missing Families Forum have called on the public to accompany the procession with Israeli flags along the route. The convoy is passing through key junctions, with hundreds gathering to in each location to express their sorrow and solidarity and pay tribute.
A Private Funeral Ceremony
At the family’s request, the funeral ceremony itself will be held privately, with attendance limited to invited family members. However, eulogies in memory of Shiri, Kfir, and Ariel will be broadcast live at 11:30 AM, allowing the public to participate in this final farewell. In accordance with the family’s wishes, government representatives will not be attending the funeral.
Allowing the Family to Say Goodbye in a Personal and Intimate Way
Yarden Bibas explained the decision for a private funeral: “This coming Wednesday, we will accompany Shiri, Kfir, and Ariel on their final journey. We know that many of you want to be there, to pay your respects, express your love, and say goodbye with us. However, to allow the family to part from them in the most personal and intimate way, and due to space constraints, the funeral itself will be limited to family members and invited guests only,” he stated.
“It is important for us to provide an opportunity for everyone who wishes to pay their respects and be part of this moment. Therefore, the funeral procession route will be published, so that those who choose to can accompany our loved ones on their final journey. Additionally, we will make arrangements for the public to view the eulogy ceremony, with details to be provided later,” he added.
Knesset Illuminated in Orange
During the night, the Knesset was illuminated in orange in memory of Shiri and her children. Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana announced that the Knesset session would open with a moment of silence in their memory and in honor of all those murdered in the “Iron Swords” war. Simultaneously, the Jerusalem Municipality lit up the Chords Bridge and Teddy Stadium in orange as a tribute to the Bibas family.
Last Friday, after an additional day of efforts, the bodies of Shiri, Kfir, and Ariel were returned to Israel, along with the casket of Oded Lifshitz, another hostage murdered in captivity. Initially, Hamas handed over a coffin containing the unidentified body of a Gazan woman to the mediating organizations before later transferring Shiri’s remains.
Murdered in Cold Blood
The IDF has confirmed that the three members of the Bibas family were murdered during the early weeks of their captivity, not as a result of airstrikes, as Hamas had falsely claimed. IDF Spokesperson Brigadier General Daniel Hagari emphasized that they were “brutally murdered in cold blood.”
Significant police forces and special security teams will be deployed around the funeral to ensure a respectful and safe ceremony.
