Categories: World

Youngest hostage captured by Hamas turns 1; freed captives and families celebrated his birthday Tuesday

close Video

‘Time is running out’ for American hostages in Gaza, ad says

WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES. Hostages and Missing Families Forum run an advertising campaign to save the kidnapped victims before it is too late.

Jan. 18, 2024, marks the first birthday of Kfir Bibas, the youngest hostage taken into captivity by Hamas. 

It has been over 100 days since Kfir and about 240 others were taken by Hamas on Oct. 7 and have been held captive in Gaza. 

Around half the hostages were released in November through a ceasefire deal, but that still left many others, including Kfir and his family, in captivity. 

IDF REVEALS ELABORATE HAMAS TUNNEL ‘CONFIRMED TO HAVE HELD ISRAELI HOSTAGES’

Kfir Bibas was one of about 240 hostages taken by Hamas. He was about 10 months old when he was taken, making him the youngest of the hostages. (Bethany Mandel)

Kfir was nearly 10 months old when he was taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz and brought into Hamas’ captivity in Gaza. His 4-year-old brother Ariel, mother Shiri and father Yarden were also taken.

Hamas has said the young siblings and Shiri were all killed, and Yarden was the only survivor. A video was released showing Yarden reacting to the news of his family’s death. The deaths of Kfir, Shiri and Ariel have not been confirmed by Israel, leaving hope for relatives. 

ISRAELI KIBBUTZ BE’ERI CONFIRMS DEATH OF 2 HOSTAGES SEEN IN HAMAS TERROR GROUP VIDEO

To mark Kfir’s first birthday, freed hostages and the families of those still being held captive came together for a ceremony Tuesday.

A birthday cake and balloons for Kfir Bibas were placed in a Nir Oz kindergarten classroom. Kfir turns 1 on Jan. 18 as a hostage held in Gaza. (Reuters/Tyrone Siu)

Ginger balloons, representative of the Kfir’s bright hair, and a teddy bear-themed birthday cake with his photo were left at the now abandoned Nir Oz kindergarten. 

“We’re marking a birthday to a kid who’s not here. We make him a cake, we put balloons, pictures, and blessings and everything. And he’s not here,” Shiri’s cousin, Yosi Shnaider, told Reuters. “It’s crazy.”

An additional ceremony will be held Thursday, where supporters and families of hostages will come together at “Hostages Square” in Tel Aviv, according to The Times of Israel. The poster for the ceremony labels it as the “saddest birthday in the world.”

Kfir Bibas has spent nearly one-third of his life in captivity since being taken on Oct. 7, 2023.  (Bethany Mandel)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP 

With over 100 days now spent in captivity, Kfir has spent nearly a third of his life in Hamas’ captivity. 

Ashlyn Messier is a writer for Fox News Digital. 

Share

Recent Posts

Pakistan fears India incursion ‘imminent’ amid heightened tensions following terror attack

close Video JD Vance says a US-India partnership is critical, warns of 'dark time for…

2 hours ago

Lawsuit alleges anti-Israel group leaders are ‘Hamas’ foot soldiers in New York City’

close Video Jewish UCLA student: 'Only way' to stop antisemitic protests is to make arrests,…

2 hours ago

Gaza ceasefire talks seeing ‘significant breakthrough’ in Cairo: sources

close Video Fox News Flash top headlines for April 28 Fox News Flash top headlines…

2 hours ago

Brazilian pro-Bolsonaro protester who wrote on statue with lipstick sentenced to 14 years in jail: report

close Video Fox News Flash top headlines for April 28 Fox News Flash top headlines…

2 hours ago

Trump to require truck drivers to speak English, pass literacy tests as ‘communication problems’ mount

President Donald Trump will sign an executive order requiring truck drivers to pass English literacy…

2 hours ago

Trump to sign order cracking down on ‘sanctuary’ cities, threaten their federal funding

President Donald Trump is poised to sign an executive order Monday instructing the Justice Department…

2 hours ago