Balloon release in Tel Aviv honors Ariel Bibas’ 5th birthday

Hundreds of Israelis sent orange balloons into the air Monday to mark the fifth birthday of one of two children held captive by militants in the Gaza Strip.

Ariel Bibas, along with his 1-year-old brother Kfir, has become a symbol of the struggle to release the hostages. The orange balloons are meant to symbolize Ariel and Kfir’s bright red hair.

During its Oct. 7 attack, Hamas killed 1,200 people and took some 250 people hostage, according to Israeli authorities. Among the 110 still held hostage, the Bibas boys are said to be the only children. Israeli authorities say more than a third of the remaining hostages are no longer alive though Israel does not consider the Bibas boys to be part of that tally.

Ariel Bibas’ relatives said they were stunned to be marking the birthday while Ariel was still in captivity, 304 days after he was kidnapped.

“It’s unbelievable. It’s something we never imagined, that Ariel will turn five as a hostage,” said Tomer Keshet, a cousin of Ariel’s father Yarden.

Ariel, Kfir and parents Shiri and Yarden Bibas were kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz on Oct. 7. Video of the kidnapping, with Shiri seen swaddling her two redheaded boys in a blanket and being whisked away by armed men, ricocheted around the world in the hours after the attack.

In January, family members marked what they dubbed “the saddest birthday in the world” as Kfir turned 1 year old. Keshet said he believed there were major differences between how Kfir and Ariel were experiencing their time in captivity.

“The difference between a child and a baby is that a child understands, a child knows that the situation is terrible, a child knows what a birthday is,” he said.

On Monday, hundreds of supporters gathered in Tel Aviv to march with photos of Ariel wearing Batman costumes. He loved all of the superheroes, and Batman especially, said relative Jimmy Miller, who wore a shirt with Batman on it in Ariel’s honor. He showed a picture of a beaming Ariel at his nursery school before his kidnapping, with a photo he drew of the Batman symbol.

“Instead of watching Ariel running in the fields with his Batman cape and celebrating with his friends in the nursery school,” said Miller, “he’s probably in some tunnel from Hamas surrounded by enemies who yell at him if he raises his voice.”

The impact of captivity on Ariel and Kfir Bibas

For a child like Ariel Bibas, captivity means being cut off from the typical experiences of growing up, such as playing with friends, going to school, and celebrating birthdays with family. Psychologists say that prolonged separation from a nurturing environment can have profound impacts on a child’s mental and emotional development. Unlike an adult, a child lacks the coping mechanisms to understand and manage the trauma they experience.

Meanwhile, Kfir, being just a baby, lacks the awareness that his older brother has. Yet, his situation is equally perilous. Dr. Rivka Niv, a pediatric psychiatrist who has been following the case, emphasizes that the early years are crucial for brain development and forming emotional bonds. “At that age, even the subtlest forms of disturbance can have long-lasting effects,” she noted.

The Bibas family has tried to stay strong and hopeful, but the psychological toll on them is undeniable. “Every day is a struggle, a battle against despair,” said Ariel’s aunt, Maya Ben-David. “We are doing everything we can to bring them back, but the uncertainty is a daily torment.” The stress and anguish are palpable in their voices and faces, but they hold on to hope, drawing strength from the support and solidarity shown by their community.

Experts warn that the long-term consequences of such a traumatic experience will likely manifest in various ways once the children are, hopefully, returned. Margaret Arad, a trauma specialist, explains the potential for severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. “Recurring nightmares, anxiety, and a diminished sense of safety are almost inevitable. Early intervention is crucial to help them reintegrate and heal,” she advised.

For now, the Bibas family clings to small comforts. Every orange balloon, every Batman drawing, and every public show of support serves as a lifeline, reassuring them that Ariel and Kfir will not be forgotten.

The wider conflict: casualties and humanitarian crisis in Gaza

The wider implications of Ariel and Kfir’s captivity extend far beyond their personal ordeal, encapsulating the larger humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza. Since the attack, the region has plunged into a cycle of violence that has claimed over 39,000 Palestinian lives, as reported by the Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza. The vast majority of the population has been displaced multiple times, forced to live in makeshift conditions under severe food shortages and appalling sanitation.

Relief organizations such as the United Nations and Red Cross have found it increasingly challenging to provide adequate aid amidst the continuous hostilities. Supplies for basic needs, including clean water, medical care, and housing, are critically low. Even attempts to establish humanitarian corridors have frequently fallen through due to renewed violence, leaving the infrastructure severely crippled.

In neighborhoods around Gaza City, entire families have been forced to find makeshift homes in schools, mosques, and even open fields. Children in Gaza share a grim reality with Ariel and Kfir, experiencing the trauma of war firsthand. Schools have been shut indefinitely, and the psychological toll is immense as young minds grapple with the loss, injury, and daily uncertainty. Mental health support has become a vital, yet severely underfunded, resource in these areas.

The economic impact is equally harrowing. With markets closed and supplies dwindling, many families are unable to sustain themselves. NGOs report skyrocketing unemployment rates and a debilitating sense of despair among the population. The conflict has also decimated agricultural lands and fishing zones, further deepening the food crisis.

Entire hospitals have been turned into makeshift camps for those injured in the ongoing conflict. Doctors are working round the clock, often without the necessary medical supplies or adequate rest, making life-or-death decisions in conditions that are less than ideal. The healthcare system, already fragile before the attack, now teeters on the brink of collapse.

For women and children, the situation is especially dire. According to recent data from UNICEF, more than half of the displaced population comprises children, many of whom are either orphaned or separated from their families. In such a high-stress environment, child protection measures are almost nonexistent, increasing the risk of trafficking and other abuses.

International responses have been a mixed bag of condemnation and calls for ceasefires, yet concrete action seems frustratingly slow. The US, EU, and neighboring countries have made pledges of aid and humanitarian support, but the logistical challenges make effective distribution difficult. There are growing calls from global leaders for more sustainable solutions to address the deep-rooted issues perpetuating the conflict.

Back in Israel, the release of orange balloons and the public rallies in support of Ariel and Kfir are poignant reminders of the personal stories often lost in the wider narrative of the conflict. Each balloon, each march, calls attention not just to the Bibas boys but also to the countless other children affected by this seemingly endless cycle of violence.

For the Bibas family, every act of community support and every international plea for peace signifies a flicker of hope amidst overwhelming despair. “We continue to pray for their safe return,” said Ariel’s grandmother, Pnina Bibas, “and for a day when no child anywhere has to endure such suffering.”