‘Even in captivity, he chose life’ – Family of Yarden Bibas starts crowdfunding campaign to help him start new life

The family of returned Israeli hostage Yarden Bibas, whose heartbreaking story deeply moved the Israeli public, launched a crowdfunding campaign on Sunday to help with his rehabilitation after returning from Gaza. 

Yarden’s family has been trying to help him start anew in the midst of his immeasurable loss. 

Bibas was kidnapped separately from his wife, Shiri, and two young children, Ariel (4) and Kfir (9 months), who were murdered in captivity by terrorists in Gaza. During his captivity, Hamas members told Bibas that his family had been killed in an Israeli airstrike. However, according to forensic and intelligence findings, the children were murdered at the end of November or the beginning of December 2023. 

Yarden’s sister, Ofri Bibas-Levi, recently told Israeli media about her brother’s struggles and the choices he has made to move forward. 

"When I saw Yarden in a video released by Hamas informing him that Shiri and the boys had been killed, I thought to myself, 'That's it, I've lost my brother,’” Ofri shared regarding a propaganda video released by Hamas in 2023. “I couldn't imagine a situation in which he survived this news, certainly not when he was in captivity and was left there alone,"

Ofri shared that the family was concerned Yarden might hurt himself, but were surprised to see his determination to live. 

“Even then, in captivity, he chose life. Alongside the immense pain, lack and longing, Yarden decided that he wanted to live,” she said. “The goal of the campaign is to allow him to do so.” 

She also revealed that the initiative to launch the campaign came from the family, driven by concerns about his future needs.

“We want to allow Yarden to make a choice, to follow the right path for it, and not to make decisions because of economic constraints,” she explained. “Yarden is not asking for anything for himself. We ask for it for him.” 

“He was in hell for 16 months and now he is dealing with the loss, with questions like, ‘What am I doing?’ ‘Where am I going?’ He has not yet begun to cope with the experience of captivity. It will come at some point, and we can't predict how difficult it will be. It's a long road, there will be ups and downs.” 

The crowdfunding campaign had a goal of NIS 5 million (approximately $1,370,500). Within the first few hours of its launch, the campaign had reached almost 60% of its goal, based on the donations of over 14,700 supporters. 

The campaign site had a message from Yarden’s family. 

“Yarden Bibas lost his whole world – now we are here for him,” the message said. 

“Hi, it's Eli, Yarden Bibas' father. For 484 days, Yarden waited for the moment to be released, the moment when he could finally return to life and hug his family again. Almost 500 days in Hamas captivity – every minute there is like an eternity. More than anything else, he looked forward to seeing Shiri again, hugging Ariel, holding baby Kfir in his arms. But he came out into a harsh and painful reality, into the worst nightmare of all,” the family wrote. 

“Yarden was released and only then did he discover that his entire world had been murdered in captivity. He lost his family, his home, all his possessions, he lost everything. And now, we are here to help him get back on his feet. Yarden's rehabilitation is a long, complex and painful journey. Beyond the unimaginable grief, he has to build a life from scratch physically, mentally, and financially,” the message continued. 

“Join us and give Yarden the strength to get up and start anew. On my behalf and on behalf of Yarden and our family, I want to thank you for all the support and love, you are our strength to continue. Hopefully everyone will return now.” 

While the state has provided some financial assistance for returning hostages, Yarden’s family is not the first to turn to crowdfunding for help. The family of Eli Sharabi also launched a crowdfunding campaign, as did friends of murdered hostage Ohad Yahalomi, whose body was returned to Israel in February and who left behind a wife and three children. 

Currently, returning hostages are given an aid package that includes a basic monthly stipend of about NIS 8,300 to NIS 9,150 (approximately $2,275 to $2,500). Upon their release, they were given an organization grant of NIS 50,000 ($13,700) and NIS 10,000 ($2740) on a prepaid card. They are also given an automatic 50% disability rating, and receive state support for medical and psychological treatment. 

However, for many returning hostages, especially those like Bibas and Sharabi, who lost almost everything – including their families and homes – the aid package is insufficient to cover the full cost of rebuilding their lives from scratch.

If you wish to support Yarden Bibas is starting his new life click here for the family's crowdfunding page.