‘I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you better’ says father of Bibas boys as Israel mourns

Tens of thousands of Israelis have paused to pay their respects at the funeral procession for Shiri Bibas and her two young sons, Ariel and Kfir, who were taken hostage and murdered during the Hamas-led attack on October 7.

Mourners gathered in central Israel, including at Kfar HaMaccabiah in Ramat Gan, before the procession passed through Yavne, Ashdod and Ashkelon, en route to the Sha’ar HaNegev Regional Council near the Gaza border.

The private burial ceremony took place at Tsoher Cemetery near Kibbutz Nir Oz, the family’s home. Eulogies were being broadcast live from Israel at 9.30am local time, as crowds gathered in solidarity at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv.

Crowds had already started lining the streets in central Israel ahead of the funeral procession (Picture: X)[Missing Credit]

Yarden Bibas, husband of Shiri and father of Ariel and Kfir, who was recently released from Hamas captivity as part of the ceasefire deal, shared emotional tributes to his family.

Shiri, Ariel and Kfir Bibas were buried together in a single casket.

The funeral’s MC, Carmit Palty Katzir, whose family members were killed and kidnapped on October 7, said: “They will remain together and close, just as Shiri enveloped the children, always, including on that accursed day.”

Speaking through the Hostage Family Forum, Yarden expressed his deep love and heartache for his loved ones taken from him.

“Shiri, I love you and will always love you! Shiri, this is the closest I've been to you since October 7th, and I can't kiss or hug you, and it's breaking me!,” Yarden said, paying tribute to his late wife.

Yarden Bibas speaking at the funeral at Tsoher Cemetery (Picture: X)[Missing Credit]

Reflecting on the loss of his two sons, he added, “Ariel, you made me a father. You transformed us into a family. You taught me what truly matters in life and about responsibility. Ariel, I hope you're not angry with me for failing to protect you properly and for not being there for you. I hope you know I thought about you every day, every minute.”

Yarden also spoke of his youngest son, Kfir, with heartbreaking tenderness: “Kfir, I didn't think our family could be more perfect, and then you came and made it even more perfect… I remember your birth.

"I remember during the delivery when the midwife suddenly stopped everything—we were frightened and thought something was wrong—but it was just to tell us we had another redhead. Mom and I laughed and rejoiced. Kfir, I'm sorry I didn't protect you better, but I need you to know that I love you deeply and miss you terribly!”

Dana Silberman-Sitton, the sister of Shiri Bibas, spoke emotionally about her sister and her two young nephews, Ariel and Kfir, at their funeral.

Using the nicknames she had for her loved ones, “Baz,” “Lulu,” and “Purpur,” Sitton reflected on the special bond they shared. “We waited to be aunts together, just to be called ‘aunt,’ and you, Shiri, were like no other aunt, loving and protective,” she said.

Dana Silberman-Sitton saying her eulogy at the funeral of her sister Shiri and nephews Kfir and Ariel (Picture: X)[Missing Credit]

In a powerful message, Sitton vowed that the horrors brought by Hamas would not break her family or her people. “I promise you, as I promised Mum and Dad, that the monsters beyond the fence will not succeed in their mission.

"They will not defeat us, they will not break us,” she said. “On the contrary, their mission failed because we united, because we grew stronger, because we became invincible. They lost.”

Ofri Bibas Levy, Yarden Bibas's sister, emotionally reflected on the pain of losing her loved ones.

She shared that for over a year, she had been writing her tribute, but nothing could prepare her for the reality of saying goodbye. “For sixteen months, I’ve been speaking about you everywhere. It always hurt, but talking about you kept you present, alive,” she said.

Bibas Levy spoke about the deep bond between Shiri and Yarden, calling Shiri the perfect partner. “I couldn’t have asked for anyone better for him. Loving, sensitive, caring, nurturing, calming. The strength you instilled in him all these years, we now draw through him,” she added.

She vowed to honour their memories, emphasising that the tragedy should never have happened and accountability was needed for those responsible.

“This disaster should not have happened. You should not have been taken, and you should have returned alive,” she said.

Bibas Levy ended with a promise to ensure the legacy of her nephews would be one of innocence, love, and goodness. “We will do everything so that your memory will be one of innocence, love and goodness.”

A touching moment captured during the procession showed Yarden Bibas making a heart symbol with his hands to the crowds, as thousands shared the family’s grief.

The procession began at 7.45am Israeli time in Rishon Lezion, with the Hostages and Missing Families Forum urging people to line the route with Israeli flags and orange balloons.

A family’s statement expressed a longing for better days: “We long for the day when we can once again unite in moments of joy rather than sorrow.”