Yarden Bibas, the former Nir Oz hostage whose wife and two children were murdered by Hamas after being taken on Oct. 7, told CBS' "60 Minutes" that President Donald Trump is "the only one who can stop this war again" and bring the remaining hostages home, saying that if it wasn't for the US leader, he would have not been released from captivity.
"He has to convince Benjamin Netanyahu, convince Hamas. I think he can do it," Bibas said on how the 47th president could pressure the Israeli prime minister and the terrorist group.
Bibas spoke to CBS after his release during the most recent ceasefire after more than a year in captivity – his first interview after learning his wife Shiri and sons Ariel and Kfir were killed while in captivity. According to CBS, Bibas chose an American outlet to ensure his message would reach the White House. "Please stop this war and help bring all the hostages back," Bibas urged President Trump in the interview. When asked if Trump could help, he responded: "I know he can help. I'm here only because of him."
Bibas was told by his captors that his family had been "murdered in cold blood, bare hands." He revealed the psychological torture he endured, with his captors repeatedly telling him: "Oh, doesn't matter. You'll get a new wife. Get new kids. Better wife. Better kids."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu resumed bombing in Gaza 12 days ago, after Hamas refused to release more hostages under a ceasefire that CBS reports was "exceedingly popular with Israelis." The ceasefire had allowed two dozen hostages to return home, but 24 others are still believed to be alive in Gaza tunnels, CBS reports. Hamas terrorists captured approximately 251 people during their October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which killed 1,200 civilians and soldiers.
Bibas described the terrifying conditions in the tunnels during Israeli military operations, saying: "It's scary. You don't know when it's gonna happen. And when it happens, you're afraid for your life. The whole earth would move like an earthquake, but underground." He added, "Everything could collapse any moment."
Weighing heavily on Bibas is concern for his best friend David Cunio, who remains in captivity. "This is David. I know him from first grade," Bibas told the news channel, showing a photo. "We did everything together. He was with me in every big thing in my life. He was in my wedding." Cunio was kidnapped alongside his wife Sharon and two children – the family was released while David remains captive. "I lost my wife and kids. Sharon must not lose her husband," Bibas said.
Keith Siegel, an Israeli-American who was also recently freed, told CBS about the brutal treatment he received, especially after his wife Aviva was released in an earlier ceasefire. "The terrorists became very mean, and very cruel, and violent," Siegel said. "They were beating me and starving me." He described being given minimal food while his captors ate in front of him and receiving only monthly "showers" with cold water from a half bucket.
Tal Shoham, who spent 471 days in captivity before his release, met with the parents of Guy Gilboa-Dalal and Evyatar David – friends who remain in captivity after being kidnapped from the Nova Music Festival. Shoham described their desperate conditions to CBS: "Like sometimes the water tastes like blood, sometimes like iron. Sometimes it was so salty that you could not drink it, but you don't have anything else."
According to CBS, the released hostages have been participating in protests and vigils instead of quietly recovering from their ordeal. "It is, every day, most of the day," Siegel told "60 Minutes" when asked if his mind was still with those left behind.
