'One word. Barbarity' - Security footage released by IDF shows Hamas terrorists kidnap Bibas family

In a press conference held on Monday, Israeli Defense Forces revealed that they recently obtained video footage of the Bibas family just hours after they were abducted by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7. 

The Bibas family first captured the world’s attention shortly after the brutal attack that took 250 civilians, including women, children and the elderly, captive into the Gaza Strip. Shiri Bibas and her two young, red-headed boys, Ariel (4) and Kfir (9 months) were forcibly dragged into Gaza by Hamas terrorists after the boys’ father, Yarden, was taken captive in a separate incident. 

IDF Spokesman Brig.-Gen. Daniel Hagari told reporters that the IDF was “very concerned about their condition,” but declined to elaborate on the additional intelligence that has led the army to fear for the lives of the Bibas family.

“From the information available to us, we are very concerned about the condition and safety of Shiri and the children and are making every effort to obtain more information about their fate,” Hagari said.

The video footage recently obtained by the IDF in Khan Younis shows Shiri surrounded by armed terrorists holding Ariel and Kfir and being forced to wrap themselves in a cloth as they were dragged away.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog responded to the IDF announcement: "One word. Barbarity. Hamas terrorists carry away the Bibas family into captivity. Kfir Bibas, just a year old, is the youngest hostage in the world. The whole world must demand and work to #BringThemHomeNow."

Hagari said the videos are from a military post run by the Kata’ib Mujahideen Brigades terror group, a small armed faction in the Gaza Strip, somewhat allied with Hamas rulers.

“They were forced into a car and taken somewhere else. From the information available to us, we are concerned for the well-being of Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir,” Hagari stated.

“Seeing this young mother, clutching her babies, surrounded by a group of armed terrorists is horrifying and heart-wrenching, but it is also a call for action, that we must bring the hostages home, fast,” he says.

The well-being of the Bibas family, including the boys' father, Yarden, is unknown. In the November truce, Shiri, Ariel and Kfir were scheduled to be released alongside other hostages. However, the Bibas family was not released from captivity and Hamas later told Yarden that they were killed in an Israeli air strike.

The IDF says that the claim has not been verified and called it “psychological terror.” They also noted that a hostage previously held by the terrorists who was said to be killed in a strike, was released alive weeks later.

The clips are evidence that Shiri and her two sons reached Khan Younis alive and other “scraps of information” obtained by the IDF have led them to be “very concerned for the fate of Shiri and the children.” Hagari said “if and when” there is definitive information on the fate of the Bibas family, the IDF will “first tell the family and then the public.”

“The materials I’m sharing have been shown to the relatives of the Bibas family and are being shared with their consent,” Hagari said. 

Both the Bibas family relatives and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the recently obtained footage “heartbreaking.”

In a statement issued shortly after Hagari’s press conference, the Bibas family advocated for the release of their loved ones to be the first condition in any hostage deal.

“We’re issuing a desperate call to all the decision-makers in Israel and the world who are involved in the negotiations: Bring them home now. Make it clear to Hamas that kidnapping children is out of bounds.”

They said the footage showed an “unbearable and inhumane” kidnapping.

“Ariel and Kfir are victims of monstrous evil,” the family said in a statement. “Our entire family has become hostages along with all the abductees in Gaza.” The footage “reminds us who we are dealing with — cruel baby kidnappers.” 

Netanyahu said in a video statement: “We will settle accounts with them. And to the world, I say: We will bring these kidnappers of babies and mothers to justice. They won’t get away with it.”

“One hundred thirty-four hostages are still being held in Hamas captivity in Gaza,” Hagari said.

“Those who have the audacity to question our need to operate in Gaza, but don’t have decency, the basic decency and humanity to release the hostages first of all, they all should take a good look at this terrified mother, Shiri, clutching her babies. Until Hamas releases our hostages, we will leave no stone unturned, until our hostages are home,” Hagari added.