DAY 505 IN CAPTIVITY • DAY 35 OF THE CEASEFIRE: Tal Shoham, Omer Shem-Tov, Omer Wenkert, Eliya Cohen Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed Are Back in Israel; Israel Confirms Bibas Family Were Murdered

Tel Aviv Diary, February 22, 2025

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Our Next ZOOM BRIEFING will take place on Sunday, February 23rd

6PM Israel Time • 4PM GB • 11AM EST • 8AM PST

Invitations will go out tomorrow morning

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The complexity of emotions pervading Israel these days defies simple explanation. It is a profound mixture of sorrow, hope, fear, and fleeting moments of joy that are intricately woven into the collective consciousness. Yesterday morning brought devastating confirmation: the Bibas children had been killed while held captive, and the body initially identified as their mother, Shiri Bibas, was confirmed not to be hers.

Walking my dog through the early morning streets, processing this news, I found myself, as has become routine, in Hostage Square—a space that has emerged as both memorial and beacon of hope. The square stood empty save for international media representatives, who requested an interview. Their presence compelled me to articulate the deep anger at the deliberate and brutal killing of small children held captive in Gaza.

The historical precedent for such acts of human depravity, particularly against Jewish children, stands well-documented. The Holocaust archives contain numerous accounts of Nazi soldiers murdering infants before their parents’ eyes. Yet, despite this historical context, Hamas's willingness to kill children on October 7th still shocked the conscience. The scale of that day's devastation often obscured individual losses, much as the vast numbers of Holocaust victims sometimes overshadowed individual stories.

The Bibas children occupied a unique place in this narrative. Their young faces became powerful symbols of the hostage crisis, touching even those who had remained unmoved by the abduction of elderly civilians from their beds. Despite military assessments indicating otherwise, many clung to the hope for their survival until the tragic confirmation of their fate was received.

Thursday brought the brutal reality: the children's caskets returned to Israeli soil. The morning's revelation of their manner of death—strangulation followed by posthumous skull fractures designed to simulate death by bombing—served as a stark reminder of the state's failed promise to protect its most vulnerable citizens. The family’s recently released father, Yarden Bibas, requested the sharing of these details added an additional layer of historical significance to their tragedy.

Friday morning brought additional complexity with the revelation that the body returned to Israel alongside the children was not Shiri Bibas. This development raised numerous questions about Hamas's strategic calculations and the whereabouts of the missing mother. However, these concerns remained secondary to the pressing priority of ensuring conditions conducive to the scheduled release of six hostages on Saturday morning.

SHIRI BIBAS, RETURNED

Late Friday night, reports emerged that the Red Cross had been requested to re-enter Gaza to recover a body Hamas claimed was Shiri Bibas. By midnight, the body had been retrieved, and quickly transported by Security Forces to the forensic institute at Abu Kabir for identification. When I woke up on Saturday morning, the Institute had confirmed that it was indeed the body of Shiri Bibas. This evening, the Director of Abu Kabir reiterated their findings that neither Shiri nor her children were killed in an Israeli airstrike but were, in fact, murdered by their captors

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Statement from the Bibas Family:

Tonight, our Shiri was returned home. After the identification process at the Institute of Forensic Medicine, we received the news we feared this morning—Shiri was murdered in captivity. She has now returned home to her sons, husband, sister, and all her family to rest.

Despite our fears for their fate, we held on to hope that we would be able to hug them once more. Now, we are hurting and broken. For 16 months, we searched for certainty, and now that it has arrived, there is no comfort in it. We can only hope to find solace in closing this painful chapter.

Shiri was a wonderful mother to Ariel and Kfir, a loving partner to Yarden, a devoted sister and aunt, and an incredible friend.

In this difficult time, we continue to demand the immediate return of the remaining hostages still in captivity. There is no more urgent cause. There can be no healing without them.

Details of the funeral will be announced later. We kindly ask for the space to grieve and process this immense loss. Thank you all for your unwavering support and love over these past 16 months.

We only wish Shiri could see it.

INVESTIGATION OF EXPLODING BUSES

In addition, Friday was the day when we began to some extent, to grapple with the attempted bombing from the previous night. The security services announced the arrest of several Israelis who, it seems, transported the terrorists. However, it appears the arrested Israelis were not facilitating an attack but rather taking them to work sites within Israel. Since the October attack, no one from the West Bank has been officially permitted to work in Israel.

Very minimal new information was disclosed on Friday, apart from the fact that Israel has increased its troop deployment in the West Bank. Prime Minister Netanyahu, despite not finding time to visit Hostage Square—located merely 30 feet from where his trial is ongoing—managed to make a visit to the Palestinian city of Tulkarem, reportedly the hometown of the terrorists, where he made sure to be seen on camera.

SIX HOSTAGES RETURN HOME

Saturday morning in Israel dawned cold, cloudy, and dark, yet it carried a sense of hope. This was the day when the largest group of hostages in this phase of the deal—six in total—were scheduled to be released. Two of these individuals had been in captivity for over a decade, while the others had been taken on October 7th. Initially, the plan was to release the hostages at two different sites, but this was eventually changed to three locations

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The day unfolded with a sense of déjà vu, reminiscent of earlier releases. It began around 9 AM in the Rafah area, where Tal Shoham, captured on October 7th, and Avera Mengistu, who had been in Gaza for ten years, were set to be released. The procedure was familiar: Hamas set up a stage, followed by the Red Cross arrived. Once the Red Cross was present, a vehicle carrying the hostages arrived. A Red Cross representative opened the car door to verify the presence of the hostages. After confirming their identity, she instructed her assistant to go on stage and complete the paperwork with Hamas. The two hostages were helped out of the car, appearing thin and pale but in fair condition overall

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After standing on stage for a few moments, they made their way to the Red Cross vehicles, which transported the newly freed hostages to Israeli troops positioned nearby. The IDF then took the two men to the Re’em IDF Base, for an overdue heartwarming reunion with their immediate families.

Following this brief encounter, both were transferred to hospitals in Israel to meet the rest of their family members. The helicopter carrying Avera Mengistu to Ichilov hospital flew directly overhead as I was outside with Milo—what a beautiful sound it was.

At 11 AM, the next group of three hostages—Eliya Cohen, Omer Shem-Tov, and Omer Wenkert, who were kidnapped from the Nova Festival—were set to be released. The same process repeated itself. This time, three hostages stepped onto the stage, evoking memories of the earlier release of the three female soldiers. After spending over a year in Hamas’s tunnels, their smiles were evident. The three young men waved to the crowd, aware that their home audience was watching and cheering, relieved to see them alive and relatively healthy.

Then, the familiar sequence of events followed: the three boarded a Red Cross vehicle, which transported them to Israeli troops. From there, they were taken to the Re’em Base, where they reunited with their immediate families.

Afterward, they were airlifted to hospitals to meet with their extended families.

The day concluded with the release of Hisham al-Sayed, who, like Mengistu, had entered Gaza of his own accord almost a decade ago. al-Sayed was released without a ceremony, however, followed the same path as the other hostages. Both he and Mengistu, having been held captive for so long, appeared somewhat disoriented.

I’m not sure I can adequately convey the profound joy we all feel each time we witness hostages reuniting with their families. It’s an overwhelming happiness that consistently moves me to tears, every time I witness it. Despite this, I find myself yearning to witness this scene another 24 times, although I’m apprehensive that we might not get the chance.

There are currently 63 hostages left in Gaza, of which 24 are still believed to be alive.

Tonight, Hamas released a video in which two hostages, Guy Gilboa Dallal and Evyatar David, were cruelly brought by their Hamas captors to view today’s release ceremony.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Netanyahu convened a consultation with the leaders of the security establishment tonight to discuss next steps. The government does not want to advance to the next stage. However, President Trump said tonight they are coming back in pretty bad shape, it's a horrible thing.He went on to say the US is working on freeing the rest of the hostages, but he does not want to say more. All of the leaders of the opposition parties issued the following statement:

Leader of the Opposition Yair Lapid, Chairman of the National Unity Party Benny Gantz, Chairman of Yisrael Beiteinu Avigdor Lieberman, and Chairman of the Democrats Yair Golan:

The return of the hostages is the most urgent mission.

Today, we are telling the Prime Minister: You have the full backing of the opposition to bring everyone back—down to the very last hostage.

We call for minimizing the time of their return and striving for a single-phase operation, and we promise to provide full public and political backing for this move.

The return of the hostages is a moral duty and also holds security value for the continuation of the war against Hamas, which will last for a long time.

The entire people of Israel, coalition and opposition alike, are united in understanding—October 7 will not be forgiven and will not be forgotten.

Israelis are nearly unanimous in their belief that Hamas cannot remain in control of Gaza. However, a large majority (80%) believe that first we should get back all the hostages, and only then address the issue of Hamas.

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TRAVEL ACROSS ISRAEL

Kibbutz Kfar Masaryk

Our next stop as we head up the coast is Kfar Masaryk

By Hynek Moravec - Self-photographed

.Kfar Masaryk is a kibbutz from the Kibbutz HaArtzi movement located in the Western Galilee, in the Acre Plain, near the Na’aman River— on land purchased by the Jewish National Fund (JNF) in the 1930s. The total area of the kibbutz, including cultivated farmland, is approximately 8,000 dunams. Kfar Masaryk belongs to the Mateh Asher Regional Council. Today, Kfar Masaryk has a population of 900.

Kibbutz Kfar Masaryk was founded in 1933 in the Bat Galim neighborhood of Haifa by groups of pioneers from the Hashomer Hatzair movement who immigrated from Lithuania and Czechoslovakia as part of the Fifth Aliyah. This led to the kibbutz’s first name: “Czecho-Lita” (Czech-Lithuania). In 1934, the kibbutz moved to Western Kiryat Haim, west of the railway tracks, near a military base, northwest of today’s Kiryat Haim Stadium. At that time, it was called “Mishmar Zevulun”. During this period, kibbutz members started families and established their first agricultural farm, which included a vegetable garden and a dairy farm.

In 1937, a new group of pioneers, “HaYotzer,” from Poland, joined the kibbutz. On November 29, 1938, members established a new settlement—the 28th of the Tower and Stockade settlements, near the Na’aman Brick Factory. In 1940, the kibbutz relocated to its permanent site, east of the Haifa-Acre highway, south of Ein HaMifratz Kibbutz, where it remains today. From that time on, it was named Kfar Masaryk, after Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk.

The dining hall in Kfar Masaryk was designed by architect Munio Gitai Weinraub and was inaugurated in 1965.

The Council for Preservation of Heritage Sites in Israel has placed explanatory signs on old buildings in the “First Courtyard” area, including the bakery, water tower, vegetable storage, dining hall, and more.

Near the kibbutz is the “Gvanim” elementary school, where children from the kibbutz and surrounding area study. Until 1996, the site also housed the “Na’aman” secondary school, which later merged with “Oshrat” school in Kibbutz Evron, forming the “Ofek” educational institution.

Industry … In its early years, Kfar Masaryk members established two major industries: “Na’aman” (a factory for producing fired bricks, tiles, and pipes for construction) and “Askar” (a factory for producing cold asphalt and paints.)

In the early 1970s, the kibbutz partnered with the Silora television company from Finland and began manufacturing black-and-white televisions in the old dining hall, under Finnish supervision and branding. The factory later produced color televisions for several years before shifting its focus. Today, it markets and provides services for satellite reception equipment.

In 1978, the Kfar Masaryk established the “Dukart” factory, which produces printed cardboard packaging.

Agriculture … Kfar Masaryk cultivates of a variety of crops, including avocados, cotton, corn, tomatoes, sunflowers, peanuts, paprika, and wheat. In addition to its agricultural activities, the kibbutz operates three livestock sectors. It maintains a dairy farm for milk production, a poultry farm for raising broiler chickens, and conducts fish farming in freshwater ponds.

Tourism … Additionally, Kfar Masaryk offers a delightful resting spot on our journey with its charming small hotel. The hotel features 20 ground-floor accommodation units, each nestled amidst lush greenery and boasting a cozy seating area in a beautifully maintained yard. Guests can enjoy a variety of amenities, including a refreshing swimming pool open during the summer months, access to scenic hiking trails along the Na’aman River, and the chance to explore the kibbutz's expansive agricultural landscapes.

You can also take a heritage tour of the Kibbutz and delve into its history through guided tours that showcase life in the 1940s. Highlights include:

• Restored Shoemaking Workshop: Explore the authentic 1940s cobbler’s workshop, featuring vintage tools and footwear, and learn about the kibbutz’s self-sustaining practices.

• Na’aman Porcelain Display: View a unique collection of porcelain items produced by the kibbutz’s own factory, once a staple in Israeli households.

• Founders’ House: Step into a reconstructed hut from the 1940s-50s, furnished with period artifacts that depict early kibbutz life.