Yarden Bibas’ Tearful Eulogy Honors His Wife and Sons at Funeral

In a profoundly emotional ceremony on Wednesday, Yarden Bibas delivered a heartbreaking eulogy for his wife, Shiri, and his young sons, Ariel and Kfir, whose bodies were recently returned from Hamas terrorists. The Bibas family had been taken hostage during Hamas’s brutal October 7 attack on Israel, and their tragic deaths have sparked international outrage.

“Shiri, this is the closest I’ve been to you since October 7th, and I can’t kiss or hug you, and it’s breaking me,” Yarden said through tears. He asked for forgiveness, expressing deep sorrow over not being able to protect his family during the horrifying attack.

A Father's Grief:

• Shiri Bibas, 32, and sons Ariel, 4, and Kfir, 8 months, were abducted and killed by Hamas while in captivity.

• Yarden was freed earlier this month in the first phase of a hostage and ceasefire agreement but had held onto hope that his family was still alive.

• Speaking directly to his sons, Yarden shared treasured memories and expressed hope that Ariel is bringing joy to the afterlife: “I’m sure you’re making all the angels laugh with your silly jokes and impressions.”

The funeral took place at Tzohar cemetery in southern Israel, closed to the public but attended by thousands of mourners who lined the streets, many wearing orange to honor the redheaded Bibas brothers. The haunting melody of Avenged Sevenfold’s “Roman Sky” played as Shiri was laid to rest with her sons, ensuring they remained “together and close, just as Shiri enveloped the children, always.”

Images of Shiri’s terrified face as she clutched her children went viral after October 7, making the Bibas family a symbol of the terror inflicted on Israeli civilians. The boys’ bodies were only returned after Hamas engaged in a grotesque propaganda display, and a forensic investigation revealed the unimaginable brutality of their deaths Israeli Defense Forces announced that terrorists killed the boys “with their bare hands.”

Their tragic story contributes to the 55 Israeli children who have died since the attacks, a chilling reminder of the violence wrought by Hamas.

Yarden’s full eulogy revealed the depth of his love and the enormity of his grief. He called Shiri his “best friend,” and his plea for strength and guidance from his beloved family is a powerful testament to the human cost of terrorism. His words, filled with love and longing, captured not only his personal tragedy but also the collective mourning of a nation.

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