Bibas Sister Slams Netanyahu, Demands Respect for Family’s Tragedy
Ofri Bibas, sister of released hostage Yarden Bibas, lashed out at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, urging him to “shut up” over his repeated graphic descriptions of the murders of Yarden’s wife Shiri and their young sons, Ariel and Kfir. In a Facebook post, Ofri condemned the publication of such details, which she said violated the family’s explicit wishes and amounted to “abuse” of a family that has endured 16 months of hell. Her remarks came a day before the closed funeral for her nephews and sister-in-law, held in Zohar near Kibbutz Nir Oz.
Netanyahu had described the killings during a speech at a military ceremony and before the America Israel Public Action Committee, showing a photo of the victims. In response, the Bibas family sent cease and desist letters to Netanyahu and other government offices, demanding that the details of the killings not be further publicized. The family also issued a statement through the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, asking media outlets to stop adding details to the horrific events.
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The Bibas family’s tragedy began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led terrorists stormed Kibbutz Nir Oz, killing approximately 1,200 people and abducting 251 hostages. Hamas had initially released what it claimed was the body of Shiri Bibas along with the bodies of Ariel and Kfir Bibas and Oded Lifshitz, but after protests, Shiri’s body was returned on Saturday. Yarden Bibas was released alive on February 1.
In her post, Ofri Bibas also criticized Israeli news outlets, social media, and public diplomats for exploiting the family’s pain for political gain. “There are many ways to conduct public diplomacy sensitively, respectfully and in coordination with the family,” she wrote, adding that the continued airing of these details is deeply hurtful and only exacerbates the trauma experienced by her family.
