In a heart-wrenching interview filled with some misinformation by 60 Minutes that Israel broke the ceasefire, recently freed Israeli hostage Yarden Bibas revealed the horrifying psychological torment he endured during his 15-month captivity at the hands of Hamas. Among the most disturbing details: his captors mocked the loss of his murdered family, telling him he didn’t need to grieve because he would “get a new wife” and “better kids.”

Bibas, who was kidnapped along with his wife Shiri and their two young sons — 4-year-old Ariel and 9-month-old Kfir — during the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, is now grappling with life after captivity and the devastating loss of his entire family. His wife and children were confirmed murdered while in captivity, with Israeli officials stating the boys were killed by their captors — not by an Israeli airstrike, as Hamas initially claimed.

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“They were all murdered in cold blood, bare hands,” Bibas told 60 Minutes. “They [Hamas] used to tell me, ‘Oh, doesn’t matter. You’ll get a new wife. Get new kids. Better wife. Better kids.’”

Shortly after his release in January during a temporary ceasefire, Hamas handed over the bodies of Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir. Since then, Bibas has turned his grief into advocacy, becoming one of the most vocal voices calling for a renewed ceasefire and the safe return of the remaining hostages — including his best friend, David Cunio, and Cunio’s brother Ariel.

Bibas doesn’t believe continued fighting will pressure Hamas to release the hostages. In an open letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he urged Israel to pursue a new ceasefire deal. “Probably the hardest thing: I have to move on with my life, and David is not with me,” Bibas said. “I lost my wife and kids. Sharon [David’s wife] must not lose her husband.”

He is now appealing directly to former President Donald Trump: “I know he can help. I’m here because of Trump. I think he’s the only one who can stop this war again.”

    Dr Sarah March 31, 2025 1:58 pm

    You forgot to mention that over 1000 mass murders were released from Israeli jails for hostages to be set free. It didn’t only cost a ceasefire.

    Eddie April 1, 2025 2:04 am

    Hamas terror group has the hostages families at their mercy, there is a ceasefire.
    Ask yourself the question. Why these terrorists haven’t bargained yet in exchange of their murderers thatbare still in Israeli prisons?
    The game they play is simple, procrastination for Israel to stop bombardment and assassinations that is decreasing their leadership, give them enough time to reallect new leaders and regroup.
    We may even doubt if any of these prisoners are still alive.

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