FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 20, 2025
Below please find a statement from Tyler Gregory, CEO of JCRC Bay Area, in response to the return to Israel today of the bodies of Shiri Bibas and her two young children, toddler Ariel and baby Kfir, and the elderly Oded Lifshitz, all kidnapped by terrorists on October 7, 2023.
“We are gutted over the confirmation that Shiri, Ariel, Kfir and Oded were murdered in Gaza. The Bibas family — destroyed by terrorism — became the face of the hostage crisis for millions. We mourn the lost futures of Kfir and Ariel and are sickened by the horror Shiri experienced trying to protect them.
“The world failed the Bibas children. International organizations that advocate for women and children should have rallied for Shiri, Ariel and Kfir and demanded their immediate release. The United Nations and the International Red Cross should have demanded that these small, innocent children and their mother be set free. Instead, the silence was deafening.
“In this devastating moment, we think of Yarden Bibas, Shiri’s husband and Ariel and Kfir’s father, who was recently released from captivity. We also mourn with the family of Oded Lifshitz, kidnapped at age 83, who learned that he was murdered after more than 16 months of waiting for him to come home.
“In the memory of Shiri, Ariel, Kfir and Oded, we will continue to fight for the return of the remaining hostages. Having heard the horrific stories of released hostages, there is no time to lose. They must all be freed now, so as many come home alive as possible.”
About JCRC
JCRC Bay Area is the largest collective voice of Bay Area Jews, working in pursuit of a more just world where Jewish identity is embraced and all people thrive. By building bridges and working in coalition with diverse ethnic, faith, political, and civic communities, we foster partnerships, provide meaningful educational and engagement opportunities, and build consensus for actionable solutions to real-world challenges. www.jcrc.org.
