New York, Rio de Janeiro landmarks lit orange to honor murdered Bibas family
New York governor orders 14 state sites to be illuminated in color that symbolized fight to free the redheaded children; Christ the Redeemer statue in Brazil also lit up
Luke Tress is The Times of Israel's New York correspondent.
New York State landmarks were illuminated orange on Friday in honor of Ariel and Kfir Bibas, two young hostages killed in Hamas captivity whose bodies were released from Gaza a day earlier, Governor Kathy Hochul said.
“Our hearts are broken as we mourn Ariel and Kfir Bibas, who were brutally murdered by Hamas in an act of callous and unthinkable cruelty,” Hochul said in a statement.
“I join the millions around the world honoring their memory and demanding that Hamas immediately return the remains of Shiri Bibas home to Israel.”
The boys’ mother, Shiri Bibas, was also killed in captivity after being taken hostage with her sons on October 7, 2023, during the Hamas onslaught on southern Israel.
A body believed to be hers was released alongside the bodies of Ariel, Kfir and hostage Oded Lifschitz. Forensic analysts later determined that the released body was not Shiri’s. Hamas released Shiri’s actual remains on Friday night — after Hochul made her statement.
Fourteen state landmarks were illuminated orange in the Empire State to honor the Bibas boys — whose ginger hair became a symbol of the hostages’ plight — including One World Trade Center, Niagara Falls, the Empire State Plaza in Albany, Moynihan Train Hall in New York City and several bridges.
Over a dozen New York landmarks are lit orange tonight to honor Ariel and Kfir #Bibas, including the Freedom Tower (@OneWTC), Niagara Falls, the Mario Cuomo bridge, and the Kosciuszko Bridge. pic.twitter.com/21dEF2uHuA
— Katia Porzecanski (@KatiaPorzo) February 22, 2025
A number of buildings across the globe were also illuminated orange to commemorate the Bibas family, including many Israeli embassies, several towers in Serbia’s Belgrade and the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Photos of Shiri, Ariel and Kfir were screened on the Obelisco in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The three held Argentinian citizenship.
Footage on social media showed the Jewish community in Beverly Hills, California releasing orange balloons into the sky in memory of the Bibas family.
Rio de Janeiro, tonight ????
Rio de Janeiro's iconic Christ the Redeemer is illuminated in orange, in honor of Kfir and Ariel Bibas, the two Israeli boys who were murdered during their captivity in Gaza.
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???? FIERJ pic.twitter.com/W89xCoLcEG— Yonatan Gonen (@GonenYonatan) February 22, 2025
The three were kidnapped on October 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists invaded Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostages.
Images of a terrified Shiri holding the two boys while being surrounded by terrorists became emblematic of the October 7 atrocities.
Shiri’s husband and the boys’ father, Yarden Bibas, was taken hostage separately. He was released earlier this month as part of an ongoing ceasefire deal, which began in January.
According to assessments by Israeli officials, Shiri was “brutally” murdered along with her two boys in November 2023.
“The terrorists did not shoot the two young boys — they killed them with their bare hands. Afterward, they committed horrific acts to cover up these atrocities,” said IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari on Friday.
Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
