The mystery of Baby Kfir: How hopes for the life of a 10-month-old baby came crashing down amid accusations and confusion
NIR OZ, ISRAEL: Tension and confusion have been growing over the whereabouts of a 10-month-old baby, Kfir Bibas, who was the youngest hostage kidnapped and taken to Gaza by Hamas militants.
Kfir, his brother Ariel, 4, their mother Shiri, and most likely their father, Yarden were all abducted from Nir Oz, an Israeli kibbutz that was devastated when it came under Hamas’ brutal and surprise attack on October 7.
While firing into people's homes, plundering, and destroying all they could, the invaders reportedly killed about 25% of the community and kidnapped numerous more.
One of the most harrowing images of that brutal attack was a video of the Bibas family’s abducted, showing a scared Shiri holding her kids close as Ariel continued to suck on his pacifier.
The children remain silent and do not cry as Hamas fighters encircle their distraught mother, who has a blanket wrapped around her body. “No one will hurt her, so she would know that we care about humanity. Cover her and keep her until you take her alive. Let her know,” a man is heard saying in the video.
The boy’s father was hit by a hammer, his sister previously said, without giving further information regarding his condition. Yarden’s cousin Keshet also told CNN that their grandparents were killed in the October 7 attack, where Hamas bombarded nearly 2,000 missiles on Israel and launched dozens of ground attacks, killing more than 1,400 civilians and abducting others.
Is Baby Kfir really dead?
The Bibas family has not been heard from since the October 7 attacks. Previously, there were hopes that Hamas was holding them hostage and would release them as part of a prisoner exchange during the truce between Israel and the militant group.
But the hopes were thrashed when the group claimed that Kfir, Shiri, and Ariel died in an Israeli bombardment on Gaza in the days preceding the declaration of the ceasefire.
"Our family has learned of Hamas' latest claims," Kfir’s relatives claimed in a statement issued through the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.
“We are waiting for the information to be confirmed and hopefully refuted by military officials. We thank the people of Israel for their warm support but kindly request privacy during this difficult time,” the statement continued.
Following the devastating announcement, the Israeli military condemned Hamas for their 'cruelty' and 'inhumanity', stating they are trying to verify the claims.
“The terrorist organization Hamas continues to act in a cruel manner. IDF representatives spoke with the members of the Bibas family, informed them of the publication [of the claims], and are accompanying them at this time,” the statement read.
“The IDF is examining the reliability of the information. The responsibility for the safety of all the abductees in the Gaza Strip lies fully with the terrorist organization Hamas,” it continued.
Where is Baby Kfir?
On Tuesday, November 29, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) claimed that Kfir and his family had been turned over by Hamas to another terrorist organization in Khan Younis, Gaza's second city.
According to a message posted on X, IDF spokesperson Colonel Avihai Adrei stated that the "babies with the red hair" were "now being held by one of the factions" in the vicinity of Khan Younis, Gaza.
While Gaza is ruled by Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other militant groups are also active there.
Later on Tuesday, Kfir's family had said the baby, who has now spent more than a fifth of his young life in captivity, his brother and parents were not on the list of hostages set to be released the next day.
“It's like our personal Schindler's list,” Shiri's cousin, Yossi Schneider told Israel's 'Morning News', adding “Every day we wait to see who will return and who won't. This is like the list that chooses who will live and who will die.”
He questioned why Hamas had taken the 10-month-old baby and the four-year-old child in the first place, questioning what value they had as 'bargaining chips', according to the Daily Mail.
“What were the Hamas terrorists exactly thinking of when they kidnapped them? What exactly were they afraid of? What did they think that Kfir could do to them? They are passing him from hand to hand like an animal. I don't understand it,” he said.
Kfir's family, like other relatives of captives, have been tormented since October 7. They have received no sign that he is still alive and wonder how such a helpless infant can cope with being in captivity for so long.