By Jerald Jimenez
Nov 28, 2023, 10:19 AM EST
The Islamist group Hamas handed over a 10-month-old Israeli baby and his family to another Palestinian faction operating in the Gaza Strip, in an act that has been described as “psychological torture” by a relative of the hostages.
Baby Kfir Bibas was the youngest hostage captured by Hamas during the October 7 attack against Israel. Along with him, his parents and his 4-year-old brother were also kidnapped, who are now in the hands of an unknown group in the city of Khan Younis, reported Avichay Adraee, Arab spokesperson for the IDF.
“In the Hamas prison, children under one year old who have not seen the light for more than 50 days are detained,” Adraee wrote in a post on Reds,” who were kidnapped from their home in Nir Oz by a member of the Hamas terrorist organization (pictured) and are being held in the Khan Yunis area by one of the Palestinian factions.”
#عاجل في سجن حماس يتم احتجاز أطفال رضع يبلغون من العمر أقل من سنة وا حدة والذين لم يبصروا الضوء منذ اكثر من 50 يومًا. حماس تتصرف بهم وكأنهم غنيمة وفي بعض الأحيان تسلّمهم إلى منظمات إره ابية أخرى موجودة في قطاع غزة.
على سبيل المثال بيباس الطفلان ذو الشعر الأحمر “الحمر” … pic.twitter.com/zzybwgujzi
— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) November 27, 2023
The children’s aunt, Noah Abrahams, expressed outrage at the family’s transfer to another armed group and called on the Israeli government to do everything possible to rescue them.
“We are living in times of great uncertainty. Realizing that we will not receive the hug we wanted leaves us speechless,” the family said in a statement.
The Bibas family, originally from Kibbutz Nir Oz, near the border with Gaza, was kidnapped in their own home by a Hamas militiaman who broke into their shelter. A video spread on social networks shows the moment in which her mother, Shiri Silberman-Bibas, hugs her children while they are dragged away by the terrorist.
The agreement, mediated by Egypt and Qatar, came into force last Friday and has been extended for two more days, until Wednesday. During this period, Hamas agreed to release 50 hostages, mainly women and children, in exchange for Israel releasing 150 Palestinian prisoners, also women and minors.
In addition, humanitarian aid and fuel have been allowed into Gaza, where the situation is critical following Israeli bombings that have left more than 14,000 dead, according to the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health.
With information from New York Post