On Monday, hundreds of Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv to release orange balloons into the sky in honor of Ariel Bibas, who turned five years old while being held captive by militants in the Gaza Strip. Ariel, along with his 1-year-old brother Kfir, has become a symbol of the ongoing struggle to secure the release of hostages.
The orange balloons were chosen to represent the bright red hair of Ariel and Kfir. The Bibas boys are among the 110 hostages still held by Hamas since the Oct. 7 attack, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people. The family of the boys expressed disbelief at celebrating Ariel's birthday while he remains in captivity, 304 days after the kidnapping.
The Bibas family was taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz in October, with video footage of the abduction spreading worldwide. Ariel's relatives shared their sorrow at the situation, with one cousin highlighting the differences in how Ariel and Kfir are experiencing their time in captivity.
Supporters marched in Tel Aviv carrying photos of Ariel dressed as Batman, his favorite superhero. The community has rallied around the Bibas family, with the color orange becoming a symbol of solidarity. Ariel's grandmother spoke emotionally about the passing of seasons and the fruits he loved, which have come and gone during his captivity.
Since the attack, over 39,000 Palestinians have lost their lives, and many more have been displaced and face dire living conditions. The Bibas family continues to hope for the safe return of Ariel and Kfir, as they mark another milestone in captivity.
