Vigil Held at Golzheim Synagogue for Slain Hostages in Dusseldorf

Revised statement from Israeli forensic experts: The female corpse found is not identified as Shiri Bibas, instead, it belongs to an unidentified person. (2025, February 21st)

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2025 September 13 . 9:16 AM

2 min read

Vigil held at the Golzheim synagogue in Dusseldorf in memory of the slain hostages

Vigil Held at Golzheim Synagogue for Slain Hostages in Dusseldorf

In a heart-wrenching turn of events, a vigil was held in Germany on Thursday evening, following the handover of the bodies of four hostages, including a mother and her two young children, who were taken hostage during a Hamas attack on 7 October.

The tragic incident claimed the lives of Ariel and Kfir Bibas, who were four years and nine months old, and their mother, Shiri Bibas. Shiri, a German citizen, also held Israeli citizenship, as did her children and her husband, Yarden, who was released separately from his family about three weeks ago.

The handover of the hostages' bodies was staged by Hamas in a city in the southern Gaza Strip. The somber event was marked by the presence of Hamas fighters, masked and armed, and a stage was set for the solemn ceremony.

A large poster with a mocking depiction of Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was displayed behind the coffins, adding to the already tense atmosphere. Despite this, over a hundred people attended the vigil, showing solidarity and support for the grieving family.

The vigil, however, was not held in Düsseldorf, the city where the family resided and where the synagogue is located. Instead, it took place on Paul-Spiegel-Platz, the location of the chosen venue for the emotional event.

The Jewish community in Düsseldorf had called for the vigil, and during the event, candles were lit, flowers were laid down, and balloons were released as a final farewell for Ariel and Kfir. The rain that fell during the vigil mirrored the somber mood of the people in front of the synagogue, adding a poignant touch to the already emotional scene.

As the vigil concluded, Yarden, the father of Ariel and Kfir, was left with the painful reality of only being able to receive the bodies of his family. The tragic loss has left the Jewish community and the wider public in shock and mourning, emphasising the need for peace and understanding in these difficult times.