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NY Landmarks Lit in Orange to Honor Murdered Israeli Children Ariel and Kfir Bibas
By: Fern Sidman
In a solemn tribute to the lives of Ariel and Kfir Bibas, the two Israeli children brutally murdered by Hamas while in captivity in Gaza, New York Governor Kathy Hochul ordered 14 landmarks across the state to be illuminated in orange. As The Jewish News Syndicate reported, the tribute was intended to both honor the memory of the young victims and their mother, Shiri Bibas.
Governor Hochul expressed her deep sorrow over the horrific loss, stating, “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.” The JNS report highlighted that Hochul’s statement was part of a growing international outcry over Hamas’ inhumane treatment of hostages and its refusal to return the bodies of murdered captives.
As the JNS report detailed, among the 14 landmarks illuminated in orange were some of New York’s most iconic sites, including Empire State Plaza, Niagara Falls, Penn Station, One World Trade Center, Albany International Airport, the Alfred E. Smith State Office Building, the Fairport Lift Bridge over the Erie Canal, the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, the Kosciuszko Bridge, the Moynihan Train Hall, the State Education Building, the State Fairgrounds, the H. Carl McCall SUNY Building and the “Franklin D. Roosevelt” Mid-Hudson Bridge.
The choice of orange as the color of tribute, JNS noted, was significant, as it has come to symbolize the campaign for the safe return of hostages taken by Hamas on October 7, 2023. Many supporters of Israel have adopted the color to raise awareness of the hostages’ plight and to press for justice.
The Bibas family tragedy has deeply shaken the global Jewish community. The JNS report recounted that Hamas had initially abducted Shiri Bibas, her two young sons, and her husband, Yarden, during its savage October 7 attack on southern Israel. The family’s captivity became emblematic of the cruelty inflicted on Israeli civilians, with Hamas later confirming their deaths. On Thursday, Hamas returned a body that was said to be that of Shiri Bibas’ but after thorough forensics and DNA testing, it was discovered that another body was sent. On Friday, Hamas did return the remains of Shiri Bibas.
As the JNS report pointed out, Governor Hochul has been a vocal supporter of Israel and has taken significant steps to combat anti-Semitism in New York. Her latest move to illuminate landmarks in honor of the Bibas children calls attention to her administration’s commitment to standing with the Jewish community during a time of immense grief.
New York has the largest Jewish population outside of Israel, and the JNS report emphasized that Hochul’s leadership has been instrumental in mobilizing public support for hostages and their families. The lighting of landmarks in orange served as a powerful message of solidarity, ensuring that the atrocities committed against Israeli civilians are neither ignored nor forgotten.
The illumination of these landmarks was not just a tribute but also a call to action. As JNS reported, Hochul’s decision aligns with a broader international effort to pressure Hamas into releasing all remaining hostages and repatriating the bodies of those who were murdered in captivity. While New York’s gesture is symbolic, it contributes to a growing wave of advocacy demanding justice and accountability for Hamas’ war crimes.
The tragic deaths of Ariel and Kfir Bibas and their mother Shiri along with 84-year old Oded Lifshitz have become a rallying cry for those seeking to hold Hamas responsible for its brutal tactics. Hochul’s initiative represents a larger movement that refuses to let the world turn a blind eye to the ongoing suffering of hostages and their families.
By lighting its most famous landmarks in orange, New York sent an unambiguous message: The Bibas children will not be forgotten, and their memory will serve as a reminder of the atrocities committed by Hamas. As the JNS report highlighted, Governor Hochul’s tribute was both a moment of mourning and a demand for justice.
As the world continues to grapple with the aftermath of the October 7 attacks, New York has once again positioned itself as a beacon of moral clarity, ensuring that the victims of Hamas’ cruelty remain in the public consciousness.
