Lagatar24 Desk
Jerusalem: Israel plunged into mourning as the bodies of Ariel Bibas (4 years old) and Kfir Bibas (10 months old)—the youngest hostages held by Hamas—were returned. Orange, the color representing their bright red hair, has become a symbol of sorrow across the country.
Nation in Mourning
The Israeli government and citizens marked their grief by wearing orange-colored articles. Government buildings, embassies, and foreign missions changed their display pictures and lit up in orange to honor the slain children.
“The color orange will never be the same for us,” wrote Israel’s official account on X (formerly Twitter).
In Cyprus, the Israeli Embassy illuminated its buildings in orange in solidarity with the Bibas family and victims of Hamas terror. The embassy’s Deputy Ambassador Rotem Segev expressed sorrow, stating, “May their memory be a blessing.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia also joined the tribute, lighting its buildings in orange and writing on X:
“We reaffirm our commitment to a peaceful resolution, the safe return of hostages, and stand against violence on civilians.”
Similar tributes were seen in Belgrade, Serbia, as buildings were illuminated in orange.
Hamas Releases Hostages Under Ceasefire Agreement
Meanwhile, as part of the first phase of a ceasefire agreement, Hamas freed five out of the six Israeli hostages who were scheduled for release on Saturday.
Hostages Tal Shoham and Averu Mengistu were first freed in southern Gaza’s Rafah, handed over to the Red Cross, and later transferred to Israeli authorities.
Later, three more hostages—Eliya Cohen, Omer Shem Tov, and Omer Wenkert—were released in exchange for over 600 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
Israel continues to demand the safe return of all hostages, with global pressure mounting on Hamas to release those still in captivity.
