North Miami Beach holds candlelight memorial to honor Bibas family members killed in Hamas captivity

South Floridians gathered to honor the Bibas family, an Israeli family taken hostage and killed by Hamas. City officials in North Miami Beach organized a candlelight memorial to remember 4-year-old Ariel, 9-month-old Kfir, their mother Shiri, and 85-year-old peace activist Oded Lifshitz.

Rabbi Yaacov Marmor said “Oded Lifshitz, who survived the Nazis, but not Hamas.” The event, held outside the city’s police department in collaboration with Holocaust Heroes Worldwide.

Over 100 people attended, lighting candles and sending messages of support. Alfasi emphasized the need for hope and a future without constant threats of violence.

In Israel, officials mourned the Bibas family with a large funeral service.

Yarden, who was released after being taken hostage on October 7, addressed the crowd, expressing deep regret: “I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you all.”

The tragedy of Kfir, the youngest hostage, whose image spread across Israel, underscored the horrors of the conflict. Israeli officials confirmed that Shiri and her children were strangled a month after their abduction. Their remains were returned last week as part of a ceasefire agreement.

The memorial concluded with news that four additional hostages were released by Hamas just days before the ceasefire was set to end.