The Tragic End of the Bibas Story - with Matti Friedman

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Timestamps:

0:00 - Introduction
2:40 - The stories of the hostages returned today
7:14 - Reactions to the hand-over of the coffins today
12:04 - Why the Bibas became the symbols that they are
15:26 - Seth Mandel’s commentary about the Bibas
21:23 - What explains the ‘surprise,’ considering the estimations were that they are dead?
25:52 - How Israeli children experience this moment
28:36 - How this may influence sentiment in Israel and the next phase of the deal
35:00 - What will be the long-term effects of today’s events on Israeli society?
38:25 - Outro

This morning in Gaza, in a ceremony that was even more twisted than those that came before it, Hamas paraded four coffins, containing the dead bodies of four hostages who were killed in captivity, before handing them over to the Red Cross. Israel then received the remains of Oded Lifshitz, an 83-year-old peace activist abducted from his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz; and the bodies of the iconic young mother Shiri Bibas, and her boys, Kfir and Ariel, who were respectively 9 months old and 4 years old at the time of their abduction, also from Nir Oz, which lost a quarter of its residents on October 7, 2023.

Shiri, Kfir and Ariel came to symbolize Hamas’s brutality and the helplessness of the victims of October 7. Oded was also a symbol of the many men and women who had dedicated their lives to seeking peace with the Palestinians, and whose lives were brutally ended by Palestinians on that darkest of days.

In a year of somber days, today is one of the more difficult ones we have experienced - here at Call Me Back, and as a nation. We are joined today to process this wrenching moment by a Call Me Back favorite: Matti Friedman, to help us understand what this day means for Israel, and how it will change us and the stories we tell ourselves about Israel and our hopes for peace.

Link to Seth Mandel’s article in Commentary Magazine, mentioned by Dan in this episode:

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Rebecca Strom, who has been running Ark Media’s operations almost since the beginning of the war, and is now moving on to the next chapter in her career. Rebecca was our first hire, and in hindsight, having her run our operations allowed Ilan and Dan to develop a larger vision. More on that in the near future. In the meantime, on behalf of the Ark Media team, we want to share our gratitude for all the hard work, long hours, holidays and weekends that Rebecca poured into this venture. Consequently, Ark Media is now looking for a hard working, mission-aligned, highly motivated Chief Operating Officer. If you want to throw your hat into the ring,

CREDITS:
ILAN BENATAR - Producer & Editor
MARTIN HUERGO - Editor
STAV SLAMA - Director of Operations
GABE SILVERSTEIN - Research Intern
YUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

#gaza #war #hamas #palestine #israelnews #israel #october7 #hostages #breakingnews #podcast

[tracyhebert]

I will never forget the fear on Shiri’s face when she was trying to protect her children during those first moments being abducted by these barbarians.

[evamurray]

Last night the Israeli military said that while two of the bodies had been identified as Kfir and Ariel, the third was not that of Shiri Bibas, the children’s mother, and that it did not belong to any other hostage. The body remains unidentified, the military said.
Utter monsters.

[bambooseragardenista]

Story isn't over yet, now that we know the adult body isn't Shiri's. It's a nightmare.

[talkfmn]

Apparently this crazy story isn't even over yet!

[maddssmithy]

Always love when you interview Matti. Please have him on more. Great interview

[Lee-kgze]

Btw, it was the Gazan workers who came into Israel for work that made maps for Hamas of the kibbutz about to be invaded. Those workers also told Hamas that the rooms in the houses that were bomb shelters could not be locked.

[LaurenFreeman-uu]

Matti Friedman's voice calms our sad souls.

[DaisyBennett-xl]

What's scary to even non-Jews is the realization that people are just NOT INTERESTED in what's happening to the hostages. There are huge articles about 'the genocide in Gaza', the 'deliberate startvation' and even the rubbish piling up in the streets (mostly unopened cans and rotting fruits and vegetables). But the release of the hostages is hardly mentioned in the media. Talking about the war either leads to horribble arguments about Israel being so evil, , or to people's eyes wandering away and losing interest.

[adamp]

This is the podcast I’ve been dreading for a while now, but there’s no better person in the world than you, Dan, to help make sense of all of it with your guests. This is truly unreal

[pablociappina]

The Bibas family has become a symbol of Hamas's barbarism not only to Israel and the Jewish diaspora, but also to all people with a sense of decency. The Bibas family are Argentine-Israeli and in Argentina everyone is horrified by this act of cruelty that is being perpetrated against Israel and its people.

[marolynbriggs]

Love the comment "We can pay a very HIGH price for our delusions that there can ever be peace with these people."

[PerterAtherton]

THE PEOPLE OF GAZA HAVE SHOWED THEIR TRUE COLORS IN THE RETURN OF THE DEAD HOSTAGES BY CELEBRATION IN GAZA

[PamelaProPeace]

The story isn't over 💔 Not Shiri.
When you think your heart cannot be more broken for Yaron, and for all of Shiri's family, this happens.
The Red Cross, failed again. WHERE IS SHIRI BIBAS?

[TheShacharZiv]

I'm guessing you are not yet informed here that Shiri was not returned.

[lorrainewylie-un]

My heart is broken for the Bibas family. I can't comprehend how malevolent Hamas are. Love from Northern Ireland

[TruthBar-]

I have been praying for the Bibas family from Oct. 7 - Ariel and Kfir are now safe in GOD's hands. I am so worried where Shiri is. FATHER GOD, please show grace and mercy upon Shiri. Please miraculously rescue her, please.

[jkbjkb]

Thank you, Dan. I needed this tonight.

[christinewyatt]

The barbarians must be stopped. Today was heartbreaking .

[yolandamathys]

The people of Israel must STOP the devide amongst themselves and all agree the finish Hamas NOW. What about IDF soldiers who lost their lives trying to protect Israel and the loss of the FAMILIES of these fallen heroes.

[sivanm]

I love Matti’s books and talks. Thank you