Title: Egyptian President Sisi Issues Warning on Gaza Plan: Trump’s “Favorite Dictator” Speaks Out
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Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, often referred to as President Trump’s “favorite dictator,” has recently issued a warning regarding the proposed plan for Gaza. In a bold move, President Sisi has spoken out against the potential consequences of the Gaza plan, urging caution and consideration before moving forward.
The Egyptian President’s statement comes at a critical time, as tensions in the region continue to escalate. With President Sisi’s warning, it is clear that the situation in Gaza is not to be taken lightly.
As an SEO and marketing specialist, it is crucial to stay informed on global political developments and their potential impact on businesses and individuals. The warning issued by President Sisi should serve as a reminder to all of us to remain vigilant and aware of the ever-changing political landscape.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story and be sure to follow us for the latest news and analysis on important global events. President Sisi’s warning is a stark reminder of the importance of staying informed and engaged in today’s fast-paced world.
New Developments: Hamas to Release Additional Hostages From Gaza
In an unexpected turn of events, Hamas has announced that they will be releasing more hostages from Gaza. Stay tuned for live updates as the situation unfolds. #Hamas #GazaHostages #BreakingNews
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Hamas, Gaza, hostages, release, live updates, Middle East, conflict resolution, Palestinian, Israel, news, negotiation, international relations
“Real Time” host Bill Maher didn’t completely rule out President Donald Trump’s plans for the Gaza Strip, siding with the idea that the war-torn territory “could be something else” in the future.
Trump made international headlines this week for saying the U.S. would “take over” and “level” Gaza after Israel ends its war with Hamas, displacing the Palestinian population to other Arab countries while developing what Trump called the “riviera of the Middle East” in order to bring stability in the region.
During his panel discussion, Maher told his guest Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., that there was a “little daylight” between the two of them on the subject.
“He said, ‘You know, it’s going to be the riviera-‘ okay, that’s a little ridiculous,” Maher said. “But you know, this idea that it could be Dubai instead of Haiti, which is really what it is. it’s just like Haiti, run by a criminal gang, by a terrorist mafia gang. That’s why it’s a hellhole, not just for the Israelis next door, but for the people who live there, who hate Hamas as well. And it could be something else.”
“This is something I read in op-eds in The New York Times, 10, 15, 20 years ago. Gaza does not have to be that. It could be something closer to Dubai. So the fact that Donald Trump, in his childlike way, throws that idea out there, is not the worst thing in the world,” Maher continued.
“Real Time” host Bill Maher said President Trump’s idea about rebuilding the Gaza Strip is “not the worst thing in the world.”(Screenshot/HBO)
The liberal comedian went on to call out Trump’s comments being “all over the map,” including when he suggested the U.S. would be responsible for clearing out the explosives hidden in Gaza’s infrastructure, sarcastically asking “What could go wrong?”
“And again, the kernel of an idea here is valid, but the idea, but introducing the notion of American troops, and also, wouldn’t this be kind of expensive for you America First people?” Maher asked Donalds.
Puck News’ Tara Palmeri interjected, “It’s like Donald Trump wants to turn Gaza into Atlantic City, but like, let’s not forget how he left Atlantic City.”
“I don’t know if I’d leave him to Gaza,” Palmeri told Maher.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu answer questions during a joint press conference in the East Room at the White House in Washington, U.S., February 4, 2025( REUTERS/Leah Millis)
Donalds pushed back, saying he’d rather have Trump call the shots with Gaza “than the Iranians.”
“Even the American troops piece that has been pulled back. That’s not the case. But you have to have some vision for what that part of the region should be,” Donalds said. “So is it [Israeli] involvement? Yes. Could it be Saudi Arabia as well? Could be. It depends on what the other nations in that region want, but what nobody wants is an Iran that is dominating that region.”
“I agree with the notion that it’s good to open a window and let in some fresh air, because people do get locked into silly ideas that we then take as the group think,” Maher responded. “For example, Syrian Civil War, all those refugees, a million wound up in Germany. Saudi Arabia took none. And we all just pretend this makes sense? That no other Arab countries will take refugees who you say are your brethren?”
Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., called out the “mislogic” from liberal leaders in the U.S. and Europe over their handling of Middle East turmoil.(Screenshot/HBO)
“I personally think that’s actually the mislogic of a lot of liberal-leaning leaders in Europe and in America,” Donalds continued, “thinking that you can just take refugees from these parts of the world and not think through the detailed steps of what it is for those countries to rebuild.”
“And I’m not talking about nation building a la George W. Bush, I’m not talking about that, but you’ve got to have leadership in that region. There have to be peace accords in that region. And so when President Trump was leaving the first time, that was the premise of the Abraham accords. Have the Arab states with Israel actually work together in peace so you can actually develop a stable, political, religious, whatever they choose that to be, and an economic area so people can live in harmony and peace, period,” Donalds added.
Joseph A. Wulfsohn is a media reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to joseph.wulfsohn@fox.com and on Twitter: @JosephWulfsohn.
In a recent episode of Real Time with Bill Maher, the outspoken host did not shy away from discussing President Trump’s controversial plans for the Gaza Strip. Despite criticism from many, Maher did not outright dismiss the idea, stating that Trump’s unconventional approach may actually bring about some positive change in the region.
The discussion sparked a heated debate among Maher’s guests and audience members, with some expressing concern about the potential consequences of Trump’s actions in Gaza. However, Maher stood firm in his belief that it’s important to consider all perspectives and not automatically dismiss ideas simply because they come from an unconventional source.
As always, Maher’s willingness to engage in difficult conversations and challenge prevailing opinions made for a thought-provoking and controversial episode of Real Time. Love him or hate him, there’s no denying that Maher is never afraid to tackle the tough topics head-on.
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Real Time, Bill Maher, Trump, Gaza Strip, Israel, Middle East, Politics, Current Events, Talk Show, Television, Debate, Controversy, US President, Foreign Policy
Trump’s proposition, the pundit Amit Segal said on Israel’s Channel 12, is “not 100 percent what Netanyahu wants — it’s 200 percent.” Until now, Israeli politicians who publicly discussed such ideas risked American blowback. Joe Biden’s administration was shamefully unwilling to restrain Netanyahu, but it did rebuke far-right Israeli ministers when they fantasized about building Jewish settlements in Gaza. The Palestinians, Biden’s secretary of state, Antony Blinken, said last year, “cannot, and they must not, be pressed to leave Gaza.” Netanyahu had to at least pretend to agree, insisting that it wasn’t “realistic” to talk about settling Gaza.
It might seem more realistic to him now. On Thursday, Trump wrote on Truth Social, his social media site, “The Gaza Strip would be turned over to the United States by Israel at the conclusion of fighting,” after Palestinians had “already been resettled in far safer and more beautiful communities, with new and modern homes, in the region.” Never mind that under the terms of the cease-fire he takes credit for, fighting is supposed to be over now. Trump seems to be offering Israel a deal: The U.S. will countenance the ethnic cleansing of Gaza so long as America gets a prime piece of oceanfront property at the end of it.
So far, of course, both Israel and the United States have spoken of the removal of Palestinians from Gaza as if it would be voluntary. No doubt some Palestinians would choose to leave the land that Israel has made uninhabitable if they had a decent alternative, which they don’t. (One Israeli news site reported that among the destinations being considered for Palestinians are Puntland and Somaliland, two regions of Somalia.) But many of the enclave’s nearly more than two million people, seared by a history of dispossession, are determined to stay put. Driving them out would be a war crime. It could not be accomplished without atrocity.
Republicans may brush off Trump’s words as nothing but audacious spitballing, but by opening the door to a Gaza without Palestinians, Trump has already made the world more brutal and unstable. Right now, Israel and Hamas are supposed to be negotiating Phase 2 of their cease-fire agreement, which is meant to lead to a permanent cessation of fighting, the release of the remaining live hostages, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces. But the Israeli delegation has yet to leave for Qatar to participate in talks, and now Trump has removed an important incentive for Hamas to set the hostages free. Why would Hamas release them, asked Samuel Heilman in The Times of Israel, “when at the end of the process they will neither have control of Gaza back nor any hope of a Palestinian sovereign state?”
There’s an idea floating around that even if Trump’s plan is unworkable, he deserves credit for recognizing that the status quo is untenable. “Trump picks up on a real problem, about how to reconstruct Gaza,” the British academic Lawrence Freedman told The New York Times. But there’s nothing admirable about tossing off absurd and impossible solutions to intractable dilemmas. If smart people are convincing themselves otherwise, it suggests to me a desperation to find rationality where there is none.
In recent news, President Trump has announced a controversial deal regarding the Gaza Strip that has sparked outrage and condemnation from human rights organizations around the world. The deal, which involves the exchange of beachfront property in Gaza for what many are calling war crimes, has been met with skepticism and concern.
Critics of the deal argue that it sets a dangerous precedent for international diplomacy, as it essentially rewards and legitimizes the use of violence and human rights abuses as a means to achieve political goals. By offering beachfront property in exchange for committing war crimes, President Trump is sending a dangerous message that such actions will be tolerated and even rewarded on the world stage.
Furthermore, this deal undermines the rights and dignity of the Palestinian people, who have long been subjected to violence and oppression at the hands of the Israeli government. By condoning and rewarding such actions, the Trump administration is complicit in perpetuating the cycle of violence and injustice that has plagued the region for decades.
It is crucial that the international community condemns this deal and holds all parties accountable for their actions. We cannot allow war crimes to be used as bargaining chips in political negotiations, and we must stand up for the rights and dignity of all people, regardless of their nationality or political affiliation.
In conclusion, President Trump’s Gaza deal is a dangerous and reckless move that only serves to further destabilize the region and perpetuate human rights abuses. It is imperative that we speak out against this deal and demand justice for the Palestinian people who have suffered for far too long.
President Donald Trump on Tuesday said the United States “will take over” the Gaza Strip — possibly with the help of American troops — while the Palestinians who live there should leave, a stunning proposal that would dramatically reorient the Middle East and subject a population of more than a million to further displacement.
“The US will take over the Gaza Strip and we will do a job with it too,” Trump said during a joint press conference alongside his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, later describing his vision for the area as a new “Riviera.”
“We’ll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site, level the site and get rid of the destroyed buildings,” he said.
Asked whether he was willing to send US troops to fill a security vacuum in Gaza, Trump did not rule it out.
“As far as Gaza is concerned, we’ll do what is necessary. If it’s necessary, we’ll do that. We’re going to take over that piece that we’re going to develop it,” he said.
Trump’s comments are a remarkable assertion from a sitting American president, particularly one who rose to political power in the United States through his criticism of America’s longest wars in the Middle East and pledges to return US investments back to its citizens. They open a host of questions about how Trump’s land-grab would proceed, what its legal authorities would be and who would pay for the effort.
“I do see a long-term ownership position, and I see it bringing great stability to that part of the Middle East, and maybe the entire Middle East,” Trump told reporters in the East Room of the White House. He said later: “This was not a decision made lightly. Everybody I’ve spoken to loves the idea of the United States owning that piece of land, developing and creating thousands of jobs with something that will be magnificent.”
There will be many in the region who oppose Trump’s plan, despite his claim that all of his interlocutors love it. Already, Egypt and Jordan have rejected the notion of accepting additional Palestinian refugees, wary of destabilization and fearful they will never be allowed back home.
Trump suggested that was exactly what he envisioned: a future in Gaza that largely does not involve Palestinians.
“I don’t think people should be going back to Gaza,” Trump said in the Oval Office earlier in the day. “I heard that Gaza has been very unlucky for them. They live like hell. They live like they’re living in hell. Gaza is not a place for people to be living, and the only reason they want to go back, and I believe this strongly, is because they have no alternative.”
Later, he added that Palestinians could be among those who return to Gaza, but he was clear he did not envision the strip as a permanent home for them.
“Palestinians also. Palestinians will live there. Many people will live there,” he said.
Trump, a former real estate developer, said during his press conference that he had studied the matter “closely, over a lot of months.”
Those comments followed his suggestion earlier in the day that Gazans move to a new location provided by one or more nations in the Middle East.
“I mean they’re there because they have no alternative. What do they have? It is a big pile of rubble right now,” Trump said moments before hosting Netanyahu for Oval Office talks.
Trump’s suggestion that Gazans leave the strip permanently amounts to a provocative stance that will endear him to Israel’s most conservative politicians but is generally a non-starter for Israel’s neighbors, who have said they are unwilling to accept new Palestinian refugees from the enclave.
At first on Tuesday, Trump framed the matter as a humanitarian one, saying it was impossible to believe anyone would want to remain in the war-torn territory.
“Why would they want to return? The place has been hell,” Trump said, ignoring a reporter who cried out: “Because it’s their home.”
Instead of Gaza, he suggested the Palestinians be provided a “good, fresh, beautiful piece of land” to live.
Netanyahu, sitting alongside Trump in the Oval Office, smiled as Trump was speaking. The Israeli leader, under conflicting pressures domestically, was in Washington to ascertain exactly where Trump stands on the next phase of a ceasefire in Gaza.
But Trump’s dim views of Gaza as a permanent home for Palestinians was certain to provide grist for far-right allies of the Israeli leader, who have called on Netanyahu to abandon the temporary truce that was struck last month.
‘Hard to grasp and digest’
Two Arab officials expressed puzzlement, concern and pessimism in the immediate wake of Trump’s unexpected remarks.
It was “rough, raw, hard to grasp and digest,” one official said, adding that they “need clarity and further development to become understood.”
A second official said the comments could jeopardize the fragile ceasefire deal in Gaza, stressing the “profound implications such proposals have on the lives and dignity of the Palestinian people, as well as the broader Middle East.”
“The reality remains that 1.8 million people in Gaza would resist such an initiative and refuse to leave,” the diplomat said. “Saudi Arabia is unlikely to pursue peace under these circumstances, and other nations may reconsider their commitments to the Abraham Accords.”
Trump’s comments, meanwhile, drew skepticism from congressional lawmakers, including from some within his own party.
“We’ll see what our Arab friends say about that. I think most South Carolinians would probably not be excited about sending Americans to take over Gaza,” said South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham. “I think that might be problematic. But I’ll keep an open mind.”
The American president’s proclamation laying claim to Gaza as US territory did not appear likely to convince Hamas to return immediately to the negotiating table.
Trump said he was still determined to free the remaining hostages in Gaza. “We’d like to get all of the hostages, and if we don’t, it will just make us somewhat more violent,” he said.
Trump has claimed credit for the hostages-for-ceasefire agreement struck in the days before he entered office – and even officials in the outgoing Biden administration acknowledged Trump’s imminent arrival helped apply pressure on Israel and Hamas.
Netanyahu, perhaps seeking to ingratiate himself with his host, praised Trump’s efforts.
“I think President Trump added great force and powerful leadership to this effort,” Netanyahu said in the Oval Office.
But for all of his prodding to get the deal inked, Trump will still need to oversee the remaining two phases of the three-phase plan.
“We’ll see what happens. We’re dealing with very complicated people, but a deal can absolutely get done,” he said.
There was plenty for Trump and Netanyahu to discuss beyond the immediate matter of the ceasefire agreement.
There is the prospect of a broader normalization of relations between Israel and its Arab neighbors, principally Saudi Arabia, that former President Joe Biden had been pursuing before the October 7, 2023, attacks. Trump, who openly pines for a Nobel Peace Prize, may see his opportunity in such a pursuit, which could transform the entire Middle East and create a new bulwark against Iran, a common foe to Jerusalem and Riyadh.
It’s not clear his comments Tuesday will be helpful. In a statement on X following Trump’s remarks, the Saudi Foreign Ministry restated its long-held position that it will not commit to normalization of relations with Israel without guarantees of a Palestinian state.
“Saudi Arabia will continue its relentless efforts to establish an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, and will not establish diplomatic relations with Israel without that,” the statement said.
Whether Netanyahu is interested in diplomacy – or whether he instead sees Trump’s arrival in Washington as a moment to take decisive action against Iran, potentially even taking out its nuclear program – remains to be seen.
Ahead off his arrival, there was speculation Netanyahu could use the talks to take Trump’s temperature on a direct strike, seizing a moment when Iranian proxies have been decimated, Iran’s nuclear ambitions appear to be accelerating and while he has friendlier ties to Washington.
Before Netanyahu arrived, Trump signed a directive authorizing a tough approach to Iran meant to prevent the country from obtaining a nuclear weapon while warning of “obliteration” should he be assassinated by Tehran’s operatives.
Trump said he’d left directions for his team on how to respond should he fall prey to an Iranian assassination plot.
“I’ve left instructions,” Trump said. “If they do it, they’ll be obliterated.”
Netanyahu’s visit lasted several hours and included the joint press conference, all meant to demonstrate Trump’s solidarity with Israel.
But the comity between the men belied a relationship that’s more complicated than it sometimes appears – with nothing less than the future of the Middle East potentially riding on Trump’s words.
In the lead-up to last November’s election, there was little question among Biden’s team that Netanyahu favored a Trump victory, believing he would enjoy a far wider remit from the American government to prosecute his war aims with Trump in office instead of then-Vice President Kamala Harris.
Those predictions have not been wrong.
Already, Trump has lifted a hold on heavy bomb deliveries to Israel, rolling back one of the few Biden-era policies meant to exert leverage on Israel amid its war in Gaza.
But while Trump is popular in Israel, and Netanyahu enthusiastically welcomed his return to the White House, things haven’t always been so cheerful.
When Netanyahu congratulated Biden on his election victory in 2020, Trump was enraged at what he saw as betrayal. In the months that followed, Trump accused Netanyahu of disloyalty and fumed to the esteemed Israeli reporter Barak Ravid, now a CNN analyst: “F**k him.”
Even three years later, after Hamas launched the worst terrorist attack in Israel’s history, it was clear Trump’s sore feelings hadn’t entirely faded.
“(Netanyahu) was not prepared. He was not prepared, and Israel was not prepared,” Trump said in an interview shortly after the attacks, comments that drew condemnation even from Republicans.
But Trump’s remarks Tuesday, delivered next to Netanyahu, suggest the animosity has been forgotten.
The prime minister is planning to remain in Washington well beyond his Tuesday talks with Trump. He arrived to Blair House, the presidential guest residence, late Sunday and is expected to stay until the end of the week, including for meetings on Capitol Hill.
This story and headline have been updated with additional developments.
CNN’s Alex Marquardt, Kaitlan Collins, Zeena Saifi, Lucas Lilieholm and Irene Nasser contributed to this report.
The Gaza Strip has been a contentious issue for decades, with ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinians causing immense suffering for those living in the enclave. Recently, former President Donald Trump made a shocking statement, declaring that the United States will “take over” the Gaza Strip and that Palestinians who live there should leave.
This inflammatory statement has sparked outrage and condemnation from around the world, with many viewing it as a blatant disregard for the rights and sovereignty of the Palestinian people. The idea of the US taking control of the Gaza Strip is not only impractical, but also goes against international law and the principles of self-determination.
The people of Gaza have already faced unimaginable hardship, with limited access to basic necessities like food, water, and healthcare due to the ongoing blockade imposed by Israel. Trump’s statement only serves to further escalate tensions in the region and exacerbate the suffering of those already living in dire conditions.
It is imperative that the international community condemns such reckless and dangerous rhetoric, and works towards finding a peaceful and just solution to the conflict in Gaza. The rights and dignity of the Palestinian people must be respected, and any attempts to forcibly displace them from their homes must be met with strong opposition.
JAN YUNIS, Franja de Gaza (AP) — Hamás liberó el sábado a tres rehenes hombres que llevaban más de un año retenidos en la Franja de Gaza, e Israel hizo lo propio con 183 palestinos presos en cárceles israelíes en el cuarto canje de un acuerdo de alto el fuego que ha frenado los combates después de más de 15 meses de guerra.
Los insurgentes entregaron a Yarden Bibas y al ciudadano franco-israelí Ofer Kalderon a funcionarios de la Cruz Roja en la ciudad sureña de Jan Yunis, mientras que la devolución del rehén estadounidense-israelí Keith Siegel, que lucía pálido y delgado, ocurrió unas horas más tarde en la Ciudad de Gaza, en el norte del territorio.
Los tres habían sido secuestrados durante el ataque liderado por Hamás sobre el sur de Israel el 7 de octubre de 2023, que provocó la guerra. Con estos, son 18 los rehenes que regresaron a Israel desde el inicio del alto el fuego el 19 de enero.
Las liberaciones fueron rápidas y ordenadas, a diferencia de las escenas de caos vividas el jueves, cuando milicianos armados parecían luchar para contener a una multitud que acosaba a los rehenes. El sábado, insurgentes enmascarados y armados formaron filas en las dos ubicaciones mientras los rehenes subían a un escenario y saludaban antes de ser entregados a la Cruz Roja.
En la Plaza de los Rehenes de Tel Aviv, miles de personas se reunieron para seguir las liberaciones, que se emitieron en vivo en una pantalla grande, agitando carteles y aplaudiendo.
Poco después de que Siegel llegara a Israel, un autobús partió desde la Prisión Militar de Ofer con unos 32 reos a bordo rumbo a Cisjordania. El vehículo fue recibido por una multitud que vitoreó y levantó a los prisioneros sobre sus hombros en escenas de júbilo.
La Autoridad Penitenciaria Israelí dijo que los 183 palestinos que estaba previsto que fueran liberados el sábado ya lo estaban. La mayoría, incluyendo 111 detenidos después del 7 de octubre, fueron llevados a Gaza. Poco más de dos docenas regresaron a la Cisjordania ocupada y otros siete que cumplían cadenas perpetuas fueron trasladados a Egipto antes de su deportación.
Alto el fuego da un respiro a la maltrecha Gaza
La tregua, que comenzó el 19 de enero, tiene como objetivo poner fin a la guerra más letal y destructiva jamás librada entre Israel y el grupo insurgente palestino. El frágil acuerdo se ha mantenido durante casi dos semanas, lo que ha permitido una mayor entrada de ayuda al pequeño enclave costero y la vuelta de cientos de miles de personas a lo que queda de sus casas en la arrasada zona norte.
Durante la primera fase del alto el fuego, que durará seis semanas, se liberará a un total de 33 rehenes israelíes, a cambio de casi 2.000 prisioneros. Israel dice que ha recibido información de Hamás de que ocho de esos rehenes fueron asesinados el 7 de octubre de 2023 o murieron durante su cautiverio.
También el sábado, un grupo de 50 niños enfermos y heridos cruzaron el paso fronterizo de Rafah hacia Egipto para recibir atención médica allí, en la primera apertura de la única salida de la Franja desde que fue capturada por Israel hace nueve meses. Una misión civil de la Unión Europea se había desplegado el viernes en la zona para preparar la reapertura del cruce.
La reapertura de Rafah supone otro paso clave en la primera fase del alto el fuego.
Está previsto que Israel y Hamás comiencen a negociar la próxima semana una segunda fase del alto el fuego, que incluye la liberación de los demás rehenes y la ampliación indefinida de la tregua. Si no se alcanza un acuerdo, la guerra podría reanudarse a principios de marzo.
Israel dice que sigue comprometido con destruir a Hamás, incluso después de que el grupo insurgente reafirmara su dominio sobre Gaza pocas horas después del último alto el fuego. Un socio clave de ultraderecha en la coalición de gobierno del primer ministro israelí, Benjamin Netanyahu, pide que se reanude el conflicto después de esta primera fase.
Hamás dice que no liberará al resto de los cautivos si no termina la guerra e Israel se retira por completo del enclave.
Familias y vecinos celebran la vuelta de los rehenes
Siegel, de 65 años y natural de Chapel Hill, Carolina del Norte, fue tomado como rehén en el kibutz de Kfar Aza, junto a su esposa, Aviva Siegel. La mujer quedó libre durante la primera tregua y ha liderado una campaña de alto perfil para la liberación de Keith y de otros rehenes.
En la sala de estar donde los miembros del kibutz vieron la liberación de Siegel hubo suspiros de alivio y vítores. Muchos eran amigos de la familia, que aplaudieron al verlo, mientras que algunos se emocionaron.
La liberación de Bibas ha renovado la atención por la suerte que han corrido su esposa, Shiri, y sus dos hijos, Ariel y Kfir, que entonces tenían cuatro años y nueve meses, respectivamente. Los cuatro fueron capturados en el kibutz de Nir Oz.
Kfir era el más pequeño de las cerca de 250 personas tomadas como rehenes el 7 de octubre, y su caso se convirtió rápidamente en un símbolo de la impotencia y la ira causadas por el secuestro en Israel, donde la historia de la familia Bibas se ha hecho muy conocida.
Hamás dijo que Shiri y sus hijos murieron en un ataque aéreo israelí, pero Israel no ha confirmado la información. Gal Hirsch, coordinador especial para la devolución de los rehenes, indicó que el país tiene “una gran preocupación por las vidas” de Shiri y sus hijos, y pidió a los negociadores que proporcionen información sobre su situación.
Kalderon, de 54 años, también fue capturado en Nir Oz.
En Kfar Saba, al norte de Tel Aviv, la familia de Kalderon se abrazó y aplaudió al ver las imágenes en las que subía al escenario en Jan Yunis y era entregado a la Cruz Roja.
“¡Ofer regresa a casa!”, dijeron, con los brazos levantados al cielo.
Los dos hijos de Kalderon, Erez y Sahar, fueron secuestrados junto a él, pero regresaron a Israel durante el alto el fuego de 2023. La familia señaló que no pudieron recuperarse de su calvario hasta que la vuelta de su padre.
“Lamentamos que haya tomado tanto tiempo, Ofer”, dijo Eyal Kalderon. “Pronto volveremos a ser una familia completa. Esperamos que otras familias se sientan pronto así, hasta la última familia”.
El presidente de Francia, Emmanuel Macron dijo que su país “comparte el alivio y la alegría” por el regreso de Kalderon después de 483 días de un “infierno inimaginable”, y apuntó que Francia seguirá haciendo todo lo posible para la liberación de otro rehén franco-israelí que sigue en Gaza.
Más de 100 rehenes quedaron libres durante un alto el fuego de una semana en noviembre de 2023. En Gaza quedarían aún al menos 80 más, de los cuales se cree que alrededor de un tercio estarían muertos.
En el ataque del 7 de octubre, los insurgentes mataron a unas 1.200 personas, en su mayoría civiles. Más de 47.000 palestinos, más de la mitad de ellos mujeres y menores, han perdido la vida en la campaña aérea y terrestre lanzada por Israel como represalia, de acuerdo con el Ministerio de Salud gazatí, que no distingue entre víctimas civiles y combatientes en su conteo.
El ejército israelí sostiene que ha matado a más de 17.000 milicianos, pero no ofrece pruebas, y culpa de la muerte de civiles a Hamás porque sus combatientes operan en barrios residenciales.
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Isseid informó desde Beitunia, Cisjordania. Los reporteros Moshe Edri en la base militar Reim, Israel, y Paz Bar en Kfar Saba, Israel, contribuyeron a este despacho.
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Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
Hamás y Israel llevan a cabo un cuarto intercambio de prisioneros tras el alto el fuego en Gaza. En esta ocasión, Hamás ha liberado a tres rehenes israelíes que estaban en su poder, mientras que Israel ha puesto en libertad a varios prisioneros palestinos.
Este intercambio de prisioneros es un paso positivo hacia la reconciliación entre ambas partes y demuestra la voluntad de ambas partes de seguir adelante con el proceso de paz en la región. A pesar de las tensiones pasadas, esta acción muestra que es posible encontrar soluciones pacíficas a los conflictos.
Esperamos que este intercambio de prisioneros sea el comienzo de un camino hacia la paz duradera en la región y que ambas partes continúen trabajando juntas para lograr un acuerdo que beneficie a todos los involucrados.
Israel is preparing to receive three male hostages held in Gaza on Saturday, in the latest release of captives under the Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal.
The militant group named the three men on Friday that it intends to release: Keith Siegel, Yarden Bibas and Ofer Kalderon.
Here’s what we know about them.
Keith Siegel, an Israeli-American citizen, was taken from his home in kibbutz Kfar Aza. His wife Aviva, who was kidnapped alongside him, was released in November 2023 as part of the short-lived ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.
Aviva Siegel said that while they were held captive together, Keith would ask everyone to identify one thing they were thankful for. “Imagine being in the depths of hell and still trying to find one thing each day that you are thankful for,” she said, according to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.
Yarden Bibas was kidnapped from kibbutz Nir Oz alongside his wife Shiri and two sons Kfir and Ariel. Kfir was just nine months when he was abducted, the youngest hostage taken on October 7.
Hamas claimed in November 2023 that Shiri, Kfir and Ariel Bibas were killed in an Israeli airstrike. Israel never confirmed their deaths, but the military has told relatives that they may not be alive, according to a spokesperson for the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.
The Bibas family, and Kfir in particular, are among the most recognizable victims of the October 7 terror attacks.
Kfir’s picture has been featured on many of the posters calling for the release of the hostages that have been on display across Israel and the world for the past 15 months. In it, the red-haired baby boy is holding a pink elephant toy, looking directly into the camera with a toothless smile.
Ofer Kalderon, a French-Israeli citizen, was 52 when he was kidnapped from kibbutz Nir Oz together with his son Erez, who was 11 at the time, and his daughter Sahar, who was 16. Erez and Sahar were also released during the November 2023 ceasefire.
Kalderon has been described by his family as a keen cyclist and expert carpenter, and a man who enjoys music and field trips with his children.
Live updates: Israel-Hamas ceasefire and Gaza hostage release
Stay tuned for the latest developments in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, as a ceasefire agreement is reached and hostages from Gaza are set to be released. Follow along for minute-by-minute updates on this crucial moment in the Middle East. #Israel #Hamas #Gaza #ceasefire #hostages #peace
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KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Two hostages arrived in Israel after Hamas handed them over to the Red Cross on Saturday as part of the fourth round of hostage releases during the Gaza ceasefire deal. Dozens of Palestinian prisoners are to be released from Israeli prisons in return.
The truce, which began Jan. 19, is aimed at winding down the deadliest and most destructive war ever fought between Israel and the Hamas militant group.
The fragile deal has held for nearly two weeks, halting the fighting and allowing for increased aid to flow into the tiny coastal territory.
Both Yarden Bibas, 35, and French-Israeli Ofer Kalderon, 54, had been abducted during the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, that sparked the war. The two initially headed to a reception point in a military base. Along the road, small groups of supporters waited for the convoys waving Israeli flags.
Hamas released them to the Red Cross in a ceremony in the city of Khan Younis where each climbed on a stage and waved to onlookers. Armed Hamas militants formed a line leading to the stage in an orderly handover, a contrast to the chaotic crowds that had surrounded hostages during a handover Thursday, angering Israel.
Another hostage, American-Israeli Keith Siegel, 65, is also set to be released Saturday and is expected to be handed over to the Red Cross in Gaza City to the north.
A total of 33 Israeli hostages are expected to be freed in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners during the truce’s initial six weeks. Israel says it has received information from Hamas that eight of those hostages were either killed in Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack or have died in captivity.
Also on Saturday, wounded Palestinians are expected to be allowed to leave Gaza for Egypt through the Rafah crossing. It had been the only exit point for Palestinians during the war before Israel closed it in May. A European Union civilian mission was deployed Friday to prepare for the reopening of the crossing.
The reopening would mark another key step in the first phase of the ceasefire, which calls for the release of 33 hostages and nearly 2,000 prisoners, the return of Palestinians to northern Gaza and an increase in humanitarian aid to the devastated territory.
The Health Ministry said 50 sick and wounded children are scheduled to be evacuated through Rafah crossing along with 61 companions.
In Israel, the release of Bibas has brought renewed attention to — and concern for — the fate of his wife, Shiri, and their two young sons. All four were captured from Kibbutz Nir Oz.
A video of their abduction by armed men showed Shiri swaddling in a blanket her two redheaded boys — Ariel, 4, and Kfir, 9 months old at the time.
Kfir was the youngest of about 250 people taken captive on Oct. 7, and his plight quickly came to represent the helplessness and anger the hostage-taking stirred in Israel, where the Bibas family has become a household name.
Hamas has said Shiri and her sons were killed in an Israeli airstrike. Israel has not confirmed that, but a military spokesman recently acknowledged serious concern about their fates.
Yarden Bibas is believed to have been held separately from his family. Photos taken during his abduction appeared to show him wounded.
Like Bibas, Kalderon was also captured from Kibbutz Nir Oz. His two children and ex-wife, Hadas, were also taken, but they were freed during the 2023 ceasefire.
In Kfar Saba, north of Tel Aviv, Kalderon’s family hugged and cheered as they saw the images of him climbing onto the stage in Khan Younis and being transferred to the Red Cross.
“Ofer is coming home!” they said, arms lifted to the sky.
Keith Siegel, originally from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was taken hostage from Kibbutz Kfar Aza, along with his wife, Aviva Siegel. She was released during the 2023 ceasefire and has waged a high-profile campaign to free Keith and other hostages.
The dozens of Palestinian prisoners to be released by Israel on Saturday include people serving lengthy and life sentences.
More than 100 hostages were released during a weeklong ceasefire in Nov. 2023. About 80 more hostages are still in Gaza, at least a third of them believed dead. Israel says Hamas has confirmed that eight of the 33 to be released in the first phase of the ceasefire are dead.
Israel and Hamas are set next week to begin negotiating a second phase of the ceasefire, which calls for releasing the remaining hostages and extending the truce indefinitely. The war could resume in early March if an agreement is not reached.
Israel says it is still committed to destroying Hamas, even after the militant group reasserted its rule over Gaza within hours of the latest ceasefire. A key far-right partner in Netanyahu’s coalition is calling for the war to resume after the ceasefire’s first phase.
Hamas says it won’t release the remaining hostages without an end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
In the Oct. 7 attack that started the war, some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed. More than 47,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s retaliatory air and ground war, over half of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were militants.
The Israeli military says it killed over 17,000 fighters, without providing evidence. It blames civilian deaths on Hamas because its fighters operate in residential neighborhoods.
In a historic move towards peace, Hamas has handed over two Israeli hostages in southern Gaza as part of a ceasefire agreement. This gesture marks a significant step towards de-escalating tensions in the region and fostering a sense of trust between the two sides.
The release of the hostages is a positive development that offers hope for a more stable and peaceful future for both Israelis and Palestinians. It is a reminder that dialogue and negotiation can lead to tangible results and pave the way for lasting peace.
The international community has welcomed this move and called for further steps to be taken to build on this momentum. It is crucial that all parties involved continue to work towards a comprehensive and sustainable ceasefire agreement that addresses the root causes of the conflict and ensures the safety and security of all civilians in the region.
As we reflect on this significant moment, let us remain hopeful and committed to supporting efforts for peace and reconciliation in the Middle East. May this be the beginning of a new chapter of cooperation and understanding between Israelis and Palestinians.
UN secretary-general António Guterres has called for 2,500 children to be immediately evacuated from Gaza for medical treatment after meeting with US doctors who said the children were at imminent risk of death in the coming weeks.
The four doctors had all volunteered in Gaza during the 15-month-long war between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas that has devastated the territory of more than 2 million people and its healthcare system.
Guterres said he was “deeply moved” by his meeting with the American doctors on Thursday. “2,500 children must be immediately evacuated with the guarantee that they will be able to return to their families and communities,” Guterres posted on social media after the meeting.
Just days before a ceasefire began on 19 January, the World Health Organization said more than 12,000 patients were waiting for medical evacuations and it had hoped they could be ramped up during the truce.
Among those patients urgently needing treatment are 2,500 children, said Feroze Sidhwa, a California trauma surgeon who worked in Gaza from 25 March to 8 April last year.
“There’s about 2,500 children who are at imminent risk of death in the next few weeks. Some are dying right now. Some will die tomorrow. Some will die the next day,” Sidhwa told reporters after meeting with Guterres.
“Of those 2,500 kids, the vast majority need very simple things done,” he said, citing the case of a 3-year-old boy who suffered burns to his arm. The burns had healed, but the scar tissue was slowly cutting off blood flow, leaving him at risk of amputation, said Sidhwa.
Ayesha Khan, an emergency doctor at Stanford university hospital, worked in Gaza from the end of November until 1 January. She spoke about many children with amputations, who had no prosthetics or rehabilitation.
She held up a photo of two young sisters with amputations, who were sharing a wheelchair. They were orphaned in the attack that injured them and Khan said: “Their only chance for survival is to be medically evacuated.”
“Unfortunately, the current security restrictions don’t allow for children to travel with more than one caregiver,” she said. “Their caregiver is their aunt, who has a baby that she is breastfeeding.”
“So even though we were able to, with great difficulty, get evacuation set up for them, they won’t let the aunt take her baby with her. So the aunt has to choose between the baby she’s breastfeeding and the lives of her two nieces.”
Cogat, the Israeli defence agency that liaises with the Palestinians, did not respond to a request for comment on the demand for medical evacuation of 2,500 children by Guterres and the doctors he met. Israel’s mission to the UN also did not respond to a request for comment.
The doctors said they are advocating for a centralised process for medical evacuations with clear guidelines.
“Under this ceasefire agreement, there is supposed to be a mechanism in place for medical evacuations. We’ve still not seen that process spelled out,” said Thaer Ahmad, an emergency room doctor from Chicago, who worked in Gaza in January 2024.
Khan said there was no process in place to get the children out, adding: “And will they be allowed to return? There is some discussion right now of the Rafah border opening only for exits, but it’s exit without right to return.”
At the start of this month, before the ceasefire, the WHO said 5,383 patients had been evacuated with its support since the war began in October 2023, most of those in the first seven months before the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza was closed.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for the urgent evacuation of 2,500 children from Gaza as doctors warn of the “imminent risk” of death in the war-torn region. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza has led to a dire humanitarian crisis, with children bearing the brunt of the violence.
Guterres emphasized the need for the immediate evacuation of these children to ensure their safety and well-being. He condemned the escalating violence in Gaza and reiterated the importance of protecting civilians, especially children, during times of conflict.
Doctors on the ground in Gaza have issued warnings of the dire situation faced by children in the region, with reports of severe injuries, trauma, and a lack of access to essential medical care. The UN chief’s call for evacuation comes as a critical response to the rapidly deteriorating situation in Gaza.
As the Israel-Gaza war continues to escalate, it is imperative that immediate action is taken to protect the lives of innocent children caught in the crossfire. The international community must come together to ensure the safe evacuation of these vulnerable children and work towards a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
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People in Israel and across the world have pledged to wear orange on Wednesday, in homage to the hair color of the last two young children still held hostage in Gaza.
“Orange Day,” in honor of Kfir and Ariel Bibas and their parents, Shiri and Yarden, is just the latest activist initiative to keep the world’s eyes on the family of four, who were taken captive on Oct. 7, 2023, and have become symbols of the hostages’ plight.
Graffiti of the family — including one piece in Tel Aviv showing the older brother pushing a stroller with the words, “Ariel will never be the same again” — has appeared all over Israel’s streets. Fueled by the passion of mothers who too easily can see their own children in Kfir and Ariel, posts about them routinely go viral on social media around the world. They have inspired art, songs, prayers and even, briefly, a fruitless digital detective hunt after a video showing two red-haired boys among a crowd of Gazan children circulated last summer.
The family’s symbolism has endured even as reasons for optimism have dwindled. Still, Israelis and their most prominent spokespeople have proceeded with the hope that the Bibases are alive. Itamar Lippner, a Tel Aviv attorney, might have been speaking for an entire nation when he posted on social media this week, “All the signs point to bad news.”
Then he added, “Of course, I keep on praying that all the signs are wrong.”
Orange balloons have become a symbol of the Bibas family because of the abducted children’s red hair. (credit: MIRIAM ALSTER/FLASH90)
The Israeli government seems to be priming the public for tragedy. There’s no indication that officials have insisted on their release during the first weeks of the current ceasefire, even as others have gone free. A delay in the release of another civilian, Arbel Yehud, threatened to derail the ceasefire and led Israel to clamp down on Palestinian civilians in Gaza. Israel has made no such ultimatums around the Bibas family.
Last week, in one of the most direct official Israeli comments on the family’s state, IDF Spokesman Daniel Hagari expressed “grave concerns for their fate.” This week, Israel received word that of the 26 hostages yet to be released in the ceasefire’s first phase, 18 are alive and eight are dead.
“The information we received is not good,” Shiri’s cousin Jimmy Miller, who has acted as a family spokesperson, said on Tuesday. “The army is afraid about the state in which they will be returned, but nothing is proven yet.”
Like Miller, Jews around the world are facing down the cruel question of which group the Bibas family is in — and in many cases wishing away signs that the answer will be crushing.
“I’ve consistently chosen to believe that the news will be good,” said Hemdat Beck, a nonprofit worker from Tel Aviv. “Of course, there have been moments of despair and breakdowns, but even when my friends mentioned rumors coming from Hamas [about hostages who were killed], I said it was a lie, that it wasn’t true. If it were truly true, there would have been an official announcement by now, and since there hasn’t been any at any point, I choose to believe this is not their fate.”
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More than any other hostage, the Bibases have come to represent not only the struggle to free the captives but, in the eyes of Israel’s supporters around the world, the justice of their cause following the tragedy of Hamas’ massacre. The family has, in turn, become a conduit for the torrent of Jewish and Israeli emotions that flowed from Oct. 7 and its aftermath — as if carrying the pain, grief and resilience that have characterized 16 months of efforts to free the hostages.
The faces of the Bibas family were burned into the consciousnesses of many beginning on Oct. 7, when footage spread of a terrified Shiri clutching the two young boys as they were abducted to Gaza. It was an early and raw image of the day’s atrocities.
Since then, photos of the young family have become some of the most recognizable pictures of the hostages: a photo of Kfir Bibas, taken captive at 9 months old, smiling; a shot of the family in matching Batman pajamas; another of Shiri hugging her children in happier times.
Hostage rallies around the world have centered on fragments of the Bibas family’s life: 11 days ago, gatherings around the world marked Kfir’s second birthday. People have shown up at rallies for the hostages in Batman costumes — an homage to the photo.
“I get messages all the time from people — mainly women — saying, ‘I’m not sleeping, if they don’t get out alive I don’t think I’ll ever get over this,’” said Jonny Daniels, a pro-Israel influencer who said his posts about the Bibases routinely get the most engagement by a wide margin. “If you ask anyone in the world to identify the Israeli hostages, most will tell you the ginger children.”
All of the other children abducted to Gaza have long been home. In November 2023, during the first ceasefire in the war, Hamas released dozens of children among more than 100 total hostages who went free.
The Bibas brothers were not among them. That week, Hamas announced that Shiri and the boys had been killed, releasing a torturous video of Yarden, who was abducted separately, after he had received that news.
At the time, Israel said it could not confirm Hamas’ allegation, accusing the terror group of psychological warfare. No further information emerged in the ensuing 15 months, even as the fates of many other hostages — both living and dead — were confirmed publicly by the government.
The Bibas’ relatives have continued to reject suggestions that the family is dead. In June, the family criticized former Defense Minister Benny Gantz for telling Israel’s public broadcaster that he believed Israel knew the fate of the Bibases, and that the public would hear “when the time is ripe.”
And on Monday, they released a statement, once again urging the public to refrain from sharing unverified information even as Israeli officials said they had informed the families of the eight hostages believed to be dead about their status.
“Since October 7th, when the video of the cruel abduction was published, we have been living in fear and anxiety for their fate every minute of every day,” the statement reads. “We ask you to respect Shiri, Yarden, Ariel, and Kfir, as well as the entire family, and refrain from spreading rumors or speculations that unsettle us.”
‘Trying not to drown in a sea of rumors’
Eli Bibas, the children’s grandfather, recently addressed a crowd at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv saying that he was “trying not to drown in a sea of rumors, the news, the half truths and lies around the negotiations.”
A few family members have been sounding notes of despair. On the occasion of Kfir’s second birthday, Shiri’s cousin Jimmy said, “We won’t do anything special because the situation is very strange. We know nothing about them.”
As talk turns to reconstruction of Gaza, a grim possibility has begun to be discussed openly — that some Israeli hostages may never be found. David Barnea, the head of the Mossad intelligence agency, reportedly told hostage families this week that bodies of hostages that lie under the rubble may be destroyed if bulldozers are used to clear the territory.
The uncertainty around the Bibas family feels frustrating to some Israelis. Lippner said Israeli press outlets often “dance around the subject.”
Channel 12 came under fire for originally mentioning the “women” hostages to be released during the ceasefire, leaving out the word “children.” After a backlash, the channel added the word into its coverage.
Some say they understand why it might be appealing to extend hope in a traumatized country.
“I want to believe that if there were even a shred of hope that they were alive, everything possible would have been done to save them,” said Avigail Harel, an Israeli nonprofit worker. “Sadly, I think the state has evidence that they have not been alive for a long time, but does not want to publicize or discuss it too much because they know it would become a national trauma.”
Beck was among those who explain their optimism by noting that Hamas said Hanna Katsir was dead, only to release her alive days later. A Hamas announcement in 2023 also seemed to suggest Daniella Gilboa was dead; she walked across a stage in Gaza last week before her release.
Beck said that in light of how invested many have become in the Bibas’ fate, Hamas may view the family as a valuable bargaining chip.
“It really feels with the Bibases like last-minute fake rumors meant to inflame,” she said. “I think they have a very strong interest in keeping them alive. Unless, God forbid, they were killed by our own forces over time, I want to believe in the good.”
Recently, as people understand that firmer news about the Bibas family is imminent because of the ceasefire, social media has erupted anew with posts about the family. Ms. Rachel, the toddler video superstar who drew criticism from some supporters of Israel for raising money for children in Gaza last year, posted Kfir’s photo on his birthday, wishing “that Kfir, his brother Ariel, and his parents, Yarden and Shiri, come home.”
Tablet magazine recently posted a stylized illustration of Shiri and the boys against the backdrop of masked Hamas gunmen. Rabbi Evan Schultz posted a poem imagining the family as a “great big orange tree,” adding that if they die, “know we all loved you and will visit your tree regularly watering it with tears and fragile ribbons of hope.” And hundreds of people pledged on social media to don orange on Wednesday.
Daniels described hearing from parents in the United States who were distraught after catching their 5-year-old packing a backpack “to go and get Ariel and Kfir.” He said the extent of emotional investment in the family worries him — especially if it emerges that the worst came to pass.
“Their story has impacted people on a level that is kind of indescribable,” he said. “I’m reminding people that this is a very difficult time, but there has to be a separation between you and them. You’re not their family.”
He added, “I’m thoroughly concerned about what happens when they do come out and how they come out. If it doesn’t end with what we all hope for, I don’t know how people’s mental health is going to be, and this is wide-scale. I’m talking about individuals everywhere. This isn’t just an Israeli issue — this is a strong international issue.”
Daniels’ partner, Danielle Katz, is a psychiatrist in private practice in the United States. She said she frequently encounters women who are deeply invested in the Bibas family’s story. The women, she noted, are typically middle-aged, affluent and white.
“These are the most involved, the most consumed and the most concerned by it all,” Katz said. “Add on top of that that these are also Jewish mothers, you have the perfect recipe for people who are completely distraught.”
While attention to the Bibases comes from a deep sense of caring, she said, she has also heard darker and more complicated themes.
“I hear from clients all the time: It’s almost a survivor’s guilt of being over here. … People feel like being involved and being angry and being emotionally invested is their only contribution,” she said, noting that the investment can come at a cost.
“There are a lot of women who have told me that their children have felt somewhat neglected by the obsession of it all, asking, ‘Do you love me as much as you love Israel?’ ‘Do you love me as much as you love the Bibases?’” Katz said.
Natalie Solomon, who works at a Jewish school in Dallas, said she recognized that outsized attention is paid to the Bibas family — but said it’s because the Jewish people have become wrapped up in their fate.
“We’re all just waiting. Holding our breath. Desperate for any piece of news,” she said. “If me, a mom in Texas, can’t stop thinking about a mother and her babies in the depth of hell, how does the family feel? The torture is not just of Shiri, Yarden, Ariel and Kfir, although of course we can’t possibly imagine what they are going through.”
She continued, “The torture to all of Am Yisrael waiting for these little red-headed boys to be back home — I don’t want to hear speculation, I only want to hear the official statement.”
The Bibas family, a group of Israeli citizens, has been held captive in Gaza for over a year now, and their loved ones in Israel are clinging to hope for their safe return. Despite efforts from the Israeli government and international organizations to negotiate their release, the family remains in captivity, their fate uncertain.
The Bibas family’s ordeal began when they were kidnapped while visiting Gaza for a family event. Since then, their relatives in Israel have been living in a constant state of anxiety, unsure of the conditions in which their loved ones are being held and desperate for any news of their well-being.
The situation highlights the ongoing tensions and hostilities between Israel and Gaza, as well as the toll that conflicts in the region take on innocent civilians. As the Bibas family’s ordeal continues, their relatives in Israel are holding onto hope for their safe return, praying for a miracle that will bring them back home.
Despite the challenges and obstacles they face, the Bibas family’s loved ones in Israel remain determined to keep fighting for their release, refusing to give up hope that one day they will be reunited with their missing family members. Their story serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of political conflicts, and the enduring power of love and hope in the face of adversity.
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