Hamas has released hostage Yarden Bibas along with two others, Keith Siegel and Ofer Calderon on Saturday.
While happy with the return of Yarden, 35, his family members are worried about his wife Shiri Bibas, 34, and two sons, five-year-old Ariel Bibas and two-year-old Kfir Bibas.
Yarden Bibas is finally reunited with his father and sister—but his wife, Shiri, and their children, Ariel and Kfir, are not with him.
— Israel ישראל (@Israel) February 1, 2025
There is no word in the dictionary to describe this kind of emotion.
📷 @IDF pic.twitter.com/yk7Z5AGJR7
Hamas was scheduled to release all living women and children first before returning elderly and sick men held by them. However, Hamas's failure to return Shiri and her sons has worried their relatives.
Israel said it has "grave concerns for their fate". Though Hamas claimed that the trio was killed in an Israeli airstrike, Israel is yet to confirm these claims.
Yarden met his family at the IDF facility near Re'im, following which he was flown to a hospital in central Israel in a helicopter.
Ofer Calderon was also airlifted in an IAF helicopter to the central Israel hospital.
Later, Keith Siegel who was handed over to the Red Cross at the Gaza Port, was transferred to the IDF troops in Gaza. He will undergo initial checkup at an IDF facility, following which he will meet his family members.
This comes two days after Hamas released Arbel Yehoud, Agam Berger and Gadi Moses.
Last Saturday, four women Israeli surveillance soldiers, Naama Levy, Liri Albag, Daniella Gilboa and Karina Ariev, were released by Hamas. Israel released 50 prisoners for each of the soldiers.
On January 19, three civilian women, Romi Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher, were also released in exchange of 90 Palestinians.
