Argentina Screens Documentary on Bibas Family: "Murdered for Being Jewish"
New documentary "Bibas: Murdered for Being Jewish" premieres in Argentina, chronicling the tragic story of an Argentine-Israeli family killed by Hamas terrorists during October 7 attack.
A powerful new documentary focusing on the harrowing story of the Bibas family, kidnapped and murdered by Hamas terrorists during the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, has premiered in Argentina. Directed by Mariana Bellini and produced by journalist Alfredo Leuco, the film titled "Bibas: Murdered for Being Jewish" chronicles the tragedy of Shiri Bibas, her two young sons Kfir and Ariel, and her parents Yossi and Margit Silberman, who were killed in Kibbutz Nir Oz.
The documentary debuted last night in Buenos Aires, and will be released to the public in September via the local streaming platform Mercado Play.
The film opens with the chilling footage that shocked the world: Shiri being abducted from her home while clutching her sons, trying to shield them, her face etched with fear. In an interview with Infobae, Leuco explained his motivation:
“This is about five victims, four of whom were Argentine citizens. I wanted to help Israel in some small way, picking oranges, anything. My friends encouraged me to do what I do best, and so I began producing a documentary about the Bibas family tragedy.”
The premiere was attended by Marcelo Benchik, representative of Keren Hayesod for Latin America, Spain, and Portugal. Before the screening, he remarked:
“We all fear death. But there's even greater terror in the thought that we may never again hold our children. Our goal is to live in peace and to prevent these types of attacks.”
Gabriel Ben-Tzaga, political analyst and co-producer of the film, added:
“The Hamas terrorists weren’t shouting liberation slogans. They were yelling ‘Allahu Akbar’. That exposes the true motive of the invasion. Their slogan is ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,’ meaning they want to erase Israel and the Jewish people from existence.”
A Night of Horror
The documentary includes footage from the terrorists’ own body cameras, showing their infiltration into Israel and casual presence on the lawns of Nir Oz.
“The night before the attack, the entire Bibas family had gathered to celebrate Shabbat,” Leuco said. “They came from a center-left background and believed in the hope of building a future with Palestinians. But on October 7, Hamas militants entered Israel, equipped with detailed intelligence on the area.”
The film features emotional testimonies from Dana, Shiri's sister, and a cousin. Dana recounts the last messages they received from Shiri and her husband Yarden:
“At first, they sounded calm… but then they stopped replying.”
In one scene, Dana visits the ruins of her parents' home with Leuco, walking among the scorched remains. She reveals:
“We tracked their phones to Gaza, but Yossi and Margit were actually burned alive here. We only discovered this two weeks later through forensic testing.”
One relic that survived: Yossi’s barbecue grill, a gift from his grandchildren for making Argentine asado.
The two then visit Shiri and Yarden's home, where they find a ball marked “Ariel,” a baby bottle, and training wheels.
“That morning, Yarden thought surrendering might save his family,” Leuco explains. “But it didn’t. Shiri and the boys were taken. Ariel and Kfir were the youngest hostages of October 7.”
Eyewitness Testimony and Aftermath
The film includes an account from Ofelia Reutman, who was also kidnapped that day and later released after 53 days in captivity:
“As soon as I heard the sirens, I locked myself in the safe room. Then I heard Arabic shouting in the house. They threw me onto a tractor like a sack of potatoes. That’s when I saw Shiri on a motorcycle with her children. She looked pale. I think I saw a single tear. Then she disappeared.”
Nearly 30% of Nir Oz’s residents were either murdered or abducted. Dana recalls:
“The soldiers arrived too late. The terrorists came first, followed by Gazan civilians who looted everything, even the children’s toys.”
On February 20, 2025, the bodies of Shiri, Kfir, and Ariel were returned to Israel. A postmortem examination confirmed that they had been murdered by their captors.