'Mi amor': Yarden Bibas bids emotional farewell to wife and sons

(JNS) — The surviving member of the Bibas family, Yarden, shared a poignant eulogy at Kibbutz Nir Oz for the burial of his wife, Shiri, and their two children, Ariel and Kfir who were murdered by the hands of Hamas terrorists in Gaza.

Yarden recalled his deep love for Shiri, remembering their first moments together and their bond as best friends, a wife, and a mother. He expressed deep sorrow and regret for not being able to protect them, especially during the tragic events on Oct. 7 when Gazans snatched them from their home. 

“I remember the first time I said ‘Mi amor’ to you,” he said. “It was at the very beginning of our relationship. You told me to call you that only if I was certain I loved you, not to say it carelessly. I didn’t say it then because I didn’t want you to think I was rushing to say ‘I love you.” Shiri, I’ll confess to you now that I already loved you back then when I said, ‘Mi amor.’”

Yarden was released on Feb. 1 as part of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire. Shiri, Ariel and Kfir Bibas were buried together in a single casket. Shiri’s sister and other family members paid their respects at the memorial ceremony. Addressing Shiri, Ariel and Kfir as well as her parents, who were also murdered on Oct. 7, Dana Silberman Sitton, Shiri’s sister, said: “Please send energies here to drive all evil from the world and leave only goodness. I promise you, as I promised mom and dad, that the monsters beyond the fence will not succeed in their mission. They will not defeat us; they will not break us.”

Thousands of Israelis lined the funeral procession route, with many wearing orange, which has become the symbol of the Bibas family, with the two children having bright orange hair.

The bodies were driven from Rishon Lezion to the Tekuma Region near the Gaza Strip, where Kibbutz Nir Oz is situated, for the private funeral service, which was broadcast live online and on national TV outlets.