Freed Israeli hostage Yarden Bibas, whose wife and two young children were killed by Hamas, has directly appealed to President Trump as the only man who can end the war and bring home the remaining hostages.
“I know he can help. I’m here because of Trump I’m here only because of him,” Bibas told CBS’ “60 Minutes” in his first interview since his release from Hamas captivity.
He then directly addressed the president, saying: “Please stop this war and help bring all the hostages back.”
Freed Israeli hostage Yarden Bibas called on President Trump to end the war and bring the remaining hostages home. CBS NewsBibas, his wife Shiri and their two sons — 4-year-old Ariel and 9-month-old Kfir — were taken hostage during Hamas’ Oct. 7 terror attack on Israel. While the father was released during a January cease-fire, his wife and children were killed in Hamas captivity weeks after they were taken hostage.
Their bodies were released as part of a cease-fire deal earlier this year.
“They were all murdered in cold blood, bare hands,” Bibas said.
“They [Hamas] used to tell me ‘Oh, doesn’t matter. You’ll get a new wife. Get new kids. Better wife. Better kids.”
Now, Bibas is advocating for Trump’s involvement, hoping the American commander-in-chief can convince Netanyahu and Hamas to agree to another cease-fire after the most recent deal ended this month and Israel resumed bombing in Gaza.
Bibas wife Shiri and their two sons — 4-year-old Ariel and 9-month-old Kfir were killed by Hamas.
Every bomb that falls in Gaza jeopardizes the lives of the hostages still being held by Hamas, Bibas said.
“You don’t know when it’s gonna happen. And when it happens, you’re afraid for your life,” he said. “The whole earth would move like an earthquake, but underground.”
Bibas was one of several released hostages interviewed on “60 Minutes” in an episode set to air Monday night.
Hamas terrorists escort Bibas before being handed over to the Red Cross in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. APHis son, Ariel, who was kidnapped when he was just 4-years-old, was remembered as “an amazing and mischievous son with a shy smile, beloved by all, a child of light and love,” according to his epitaph.
His younger brother, Kfir, who was taken when he was just nine months old, was remembered as a “lover of hugs and cuddles.”
Kfir was the youngest hostage taken by Hamas, dying in captivity before he could even celebrate his first birthday.
Their mother Shiri’s body was released days later, with the three victims buried together at Israel’s Tsoher Regional Cemetary during a funeral procession that drew thousands of people.
Israeli officials believe the children and their mother were killed by Hamas, with autopsies contradicting Hamas’ claims that they were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza.
