despite the uncertainty around Kfir, the youngest hostage of Hamas, his relatives still hope

The now one-year-old baby was kidnapped on October 7 with his parents and big brother. Having become a symbol of hostages in Israel, its fate remains completely uncertain.

The photo of her smiling face, with her red hair, and her fuchsia pink blanket is on every wall in Israel. This baby has become the symbol of the atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7: Kfir Bibas was kidnapped at the age of 9 months with his mother, his father and his 4-year-old older brother. The fate of the child, who should have celebrated his first birthday on January 18, 2024, is unknown: we do not know if he is still alive.

Those close to him, and in particular his big cousin, Yossi, still want to believe it. “I don’t want to talk anymore. I want to shout. Bring my family back!“, he slips, in front of one of his many posters in the streets of Tel Aviv. Today, in the image, the child’s age is crossed out: “At first it was nine months. And, then, we crossed out and we wrote a yearexplains Yossi. There’s been a baby somewhere underground for three and a half months. I don’t know if anyone changes diapers. It’s terrible ! “

“Let Hamas get on its knees and beg us to stop”

Kfir Bibas is the only one of the 38 child hostages with his 4-year-old brother, Ariel, not to have been released. Hamas broadcast, almost two months ago, a video of his father, Yarden, who implored, under duress, the Israeli government to negotiate to repatriate the bodies of his wife and sons. Kfir would therefore be dead. But Yossi doesn’t want to believe it: “I can not explain it. I feel they are alive. That’s a first thing. On the other hand, if I lose faith, I no longer have any reason to continue what I’m doing right now… Like this interview. It wouldn’t do any good. I have to keep the faith and continue to believe that they are alive and that they will come back.“

Israel only released one hostage by force, since the start of the war, and the negotiations have been going on for a month and a half to the point of death. And yet, despite the risks, Yossi, is in favor of continuing of the military operation: “The only way to get everyone back – everyone, not 50, 60 or 70 hostages, but everyone – is for Hamas to get on its knees and beg us to stop. Otherwise, we’ll spend our whole lives wondering what happened to them…“

“All the leaders of the world are cowards and hypocrites. Looking at me with a sad face and telling me with empathy that they are sorry for me is one thing! But taking action is not the same.”

Yossi, cousin of Kfir Bibas

at franceinfo

Yossi will participate in a demonstration on Thursday January 18 for his little cousin’s birthday. It will take place in the now infamous “hostage square” in Tel Aviv.