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Bibas even asked the mastermind of the October 7th attacks, Yahya Sinwar, to ensure that he and his longtime best friend, David Cunio, would be held together.
By World Israel News
Freed hostage Yarden Bibas spoke out about his experience in his captivity during an interview aired Tuesday evening, saying that he had met slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, mastermind of the October 7th attacks, while he was held hostage in Gaza.
Bibas, who was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz alongside his wife, Shiri, and two sons Ariel and Kfir.
The family was immediately separated, with Shiri and the children believed to have been murdered within a few weeks of their abduction.
In November 2023, Bibas recounted, he saw his friend, David Cunio, who was also abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz, while being held in a subterranean tunnel in Gaza.
“David is my best friend, he has been with me my whole life,” Bibas told Hebrew-language outlet Channel 12 news.
Bibas recounted that Cunio saw him while en route to another area where hostages were being held.
“When he saw me for the first time, he was in shock,” Bibas said. “He thought he saw a ghost. I hugged him, and then he continued to the next place.”
Captivity survivor Yarden Bibas stood in front of the cameras of @N12News last night to call for the release of his good friend David Cunio from captivity in Gaza . Yarden spoke about the time in captivity with David:
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“When Sinwar arrived at the tunnel, I asked him not to… pic.twitter.com/zbOQKIpUP4— Iris (@streetwize) May 21, 2025
After Hamas terrorists informed Bibas that his wife and children had been murdered, though they falsely claimed they were killed in an IAF airstrike, Bibas requested to be moved to the tunnel where Cunio was being held.
Bibas even asked Sinwar, to ensure that he and Cunio would be held together.
“When Sinwar arrived at the tunnel, I said to him that this is my best friend and I want to stay with him. He said there was no problem, you can stay with him. After around two weeks, they separated us. I don’t know why,” Bibas recalled.
In October 2024, Sinwar was killed in a gun battle with IDF troops. Bibas was freed during a hostage exchange deal and a ceasefire in February 2025.
Cunio’s 35th birthday is today (Wednesday, May 21st.) He is still held captive in the Strip and presumed to be alive.
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