TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — 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.
TEL AVIV, Israel — 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., 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.
“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. “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.
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