ESCONDIDO, California – By now, we have all heard the devastating news: the Bibas babies have been murdered. For over a year, we clung to hope that this was yet another cruel psychological game by Hamas—just as they forced Daniella Gilboa to play dead. Today, Israel has confirmed the deaths of Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas.
The image of that horrific day is etched in my mind: a terrified mother clutching her two babies, wrapped in a blanket, as they were kidnapped. In captivity, Yarden Bibas was told that his family was dead. We prayed it was another form of psychological torture. Deep down, we feared the worst but held onto hope.
When Hamas announced they would release the bodies of the Bibas family, their relatives and the Hostage and Missing Families Forum urged everyone to refrain from spreading rumors and to wait for official confirmation. Tragically, that confirmation has arrived.
To make matters worse, the announcement was marred by an unnecessary wound. The IDF liaison officers made an honest but painful mistake, approving the release of the names to the media before obtaining the family’s consent—violating standard procedure. The Bibas family later issued a statement clarifying that they had not authorized any public release and that even the Hostage and Missing Families Forum was unaware of the announcement.
One of the most heartbreaking details to emerge is how the bodies were identified. Dental records are typically used for this purpose. But in Kfir’s case, that wasn’t possible—because he still had no teeth.
Today, our hearts shatter for the Bibas family. As a nation, we grieve. But we must also remember: this is not the first time such an atrocity has been committed by these same perpetrators.
In 2004, Tali Hatuel—eight months pregnant—and her daughters, Hila, Hadar, Roni, and Merav, were brutally murdered at the Kissufim Crossing, a route between Gaza and Israel. At the time, Gaza was still under Israeli control; Israel did not withdraw until 2005. The attack was carried out by Islamic Jihad. The girls were just 2 to 11 years old. As Tali drove with her daughters, militants opened fire on their vehicle, then approached and executed them at close range. Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility, calling it retaliation for the IDF’s assassination of Hamas leaders weeks earlier.
Even Amnesty International—an organization often critical of Israel—recognized this massacre as a crime against humanity. It took three years for the Shin Bet to track down and arrest the terrorist responsible.
We must never forget. Not then. Not now. Not ever.
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Miriam Gershenson is an Israeli-American freelance writer based in Escondido, California.