Fears over the youngest hostage in the Gaza Strip rose Wednesday when Hamas claimed 10-month-old Fir Bibas was killed along with his brother and mother.
Israel’s military said it was evaluating the claim, while relatives said they were waiting for “news to be confirmed or hopefully denied soon” about the family involved in the hostage crisis. has become a prominent face.
“During the Hamas massacre of October 7, the Bibas family, including 10-month-old Kaffir Bibas, his 4-year-old brother Ariel Bibas, and their mother Shiri Bibas, were abducted alive in Gaza,” the Israel Defense Forces said. In a statement.
“The barbarism and brutality of Hamas has been laid bare for the world to see. IDF representatives spoke to the Bibas family following the latest reports and are with them during this difficult time. The IDF is assessing the accuracy of the information.”
It followed a claim by Hamas’ military wing, which said earlier in the day that three hostages had died as a result of Israeli bombardment in Gaza.
NBC News could not verify the claim. Israel has accused Hamas of using civilians as human shields.
“Our family has been updated on the latest release from Hamas. We are waiting for military authorities to confirm or deny the news soon,” the Bibas family said in a statement issued by the Hostage and Missing Families Forum.
He added: “We thank the people of Israel for their warm embrace but we ask that we maintain our privacy at this critical time.”
Footage of Bibas, kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz near the Gaza border, holding her two young children in her arms, has become one of the enduring images of the terrorist attack and the resulting plight of hostages inside Gaza.
A 10-month-old kefir is believed to be the youngest captive.
Bibas’ husband, Yarden, was abducted along with her and their children, but no information was immediately available on his well-being.
On Tuesday, Israel’s prime minister’s office said Hamas claimed not to hold the mother and two children, saying they had handed them over to another group. The presence of other armed terrorist groups inside Gaza, who are believed to be hostages, has added to the complexity of the negotiations.
The claims about the status of the Bibas family come as talks are underway to extend a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas to free more hostages and Palestinian prisoners in Qatar.
It came hours after relatives led a rally in central Tel Aviv in an effort to show support and raise awareness of the family’s case, as they were released for the first time since a ceasefire came into effect last week. They were none of the hostages.
Every time his name is not on the [hostage release] list, it’s like getting shot in the chest, Bibas’ sister Ofri told NBC News at the intersection where the event was held on Tuesday.
Some of the hundreds of attendees, including people from the family’s kibbutz, wore T-shirts bearing the family’s photo. The word “kidnapped” was written in bold letters above the photo.
Orange balloons were released in honor of the boys’ red hair and rejection of the family as a symbol of salvation.
“These two young redheads really struck a chord with everyone in Israel and around the world,” Ofri said.
He described the past seven weeks as a “nightmare” but said he hoped the gathering would help advance the ceasefire.
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