Yarden Bibas Says Terrorists Tormented Him With Talk of His Wife, Children

By Matis Glenn

Yarden Bibas, released from Hamas captivity over shabbos, says he was tormented by his captors with talk of his wife and children, in interviews he gave with Israeli media over the weekend.

Yarden, 35, was released as part of the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, together with Ofer Calderon, 54. American-Israeli hostage Keith Siegel, 65, was released almost two hours later.

In the interviews, Yarden says the terrorists would talk to him about his family incessantly. Kan reports that Yarden says he and Ofer were subjected to physical abuse as well, being kept in cages and suffering blows from the terrorists. They were also moved frequently to different parts of the Khan Younis area of Gaza throughout their almost 16-months of captivity.

The fate of Yarden’s wife Shiri and their two sons is not clear as this time, but Israeli officials have expressed grave concern. When captured, one son, Kfir, was 10-months-old, and his brother Ariel was four years old.