Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal: Who is Yarden Bibas, father of youngest hostage to be freed on Saturday

Militant group Hamas has announced the names of three hostages, who will be set free on Saturday (February 1), under the hostage-for-prisoner exchange deal with Israel.

Among the three of them are Ofer Kalderon, Keith Siegel and Yarden Bibas, the father of the youngest hostage. The Israeli prime minister's office has confirmed receiving the list of hostages and will be releasing another batch of Palestinian prisoners in return, BBC reported.

This will be the fourth such exchange since the Israel-Hamas conflict ceasefire came into effect on January 19.

Bibas family's tragedy

The 35-year-old was among the people abducted by Hamas-backed militants to the Gaza Strip during the deadly attack in southern Israel on October 7, 2023.

He was separated from his wife, Shiri, and their two children, Ariel and Kfir, all of whom were taken as hostages.

Yarden Bibas is being released by Hamas, but the current status of his family remains unknown as the government of Israel is pressing for answers regarding their condition, The Jerusalem Post reported.

Shockingly, Ariel was just four at the time of the kidnapping, while Kfir was nine months old, making him the youngest of all the hostages taken to Gaza and still in captivity.

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Who is Yarden Bibas?

The Bibas family are from the Kibbutz Nir Oz region in Israel. They stayed with their family dog, Tonto, who was murdered during the October 7 attack.

A welder by profession, Yarden is fond of music and stand-up comedy. He is identified by his family members and friends as a sensitive person with a caring nature.

Earlier, footage made public revealed that he was alive after his abduction.

What about Yarden Bibas' family?

After witnessing the footage, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that Shiri and their two sons were taken by Hamas to Gaza alive. Later on, they were detained by Kataib Mujahadin, a terror group.

In a statement, other family members of Yarden Bibas said that witnessing them "ripped away from their home in Nir Oz into this hellscape feels unbearable and inhumane."

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FAQs

1. When happened on October 7, 2023?
Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing nearly 1,200 people and abducting more than 250 others. In reply, the Israeli military has so far killed more than 47,000 Palestinians in Gaza.

2. When is the next ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas?
Hamas will release three hostages on Saturday, February 1.