U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee joined a memorial ceremony Thursday at Moshav HaYogev in northern Israel, where a tree was dedicated in memory of Shiri Bibas and her two young sons, Ariel and Kfir, as part of the “My Tree in Israel” initiative. The event served as a tribute to the family, whose fate became one of the defining tragedies of the October 7 Hamas massacre.

Yarden Bibas and his sister, Ofri, attended the ceremony alongside Huckabee. The ambassador offered his heartfelt condolences to Yarden, telling him that people around the world had prayed for the safe return of his family. Huckabee also stressed that the horrors of October 7 and the immense suffering endured by Israel must never be allowed to fade from memory.

The abduction of Shiri Bibas and her sons—4-year-old Ariel and 9-month-old Kfir—from their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz became one of the most unforgettable images of the Hamas-led assault on October 7. Video of a terrified Shiri desperately holding her two red-haired children as Hamas terrorists forced them into Gaza stunned millions across the globe. As the youngest hostage taken during the attack, baby Kfir, together with his older brother Ariel, came to symbolize the innocence of the civilians targeted in the massacre and the anguish of the hostage crisis.

The ceremony also included an emotional meeting with Avi Harush, whose son, Reef Harush, was killed while serving as a commando in combat in the Gaza Strip in April 2024. Harush showed Huckabee and his wife the tree planted in his son’s memory, shared photographs, and spoke about his regular visits to the site, saying that he believes his son is “at peace.”

During his visit to the moshav, Huckabee toured a local olive oil press, where he observed the production process firsthand. He remarked that every year he purchases numerous bottles of Israeli olive oil to present to friends as holiday gifts.

Huckabee also revisited the olive tree he had previously adopted and updated its commemorative plaque, replacing the inscription “Governor Huckabee” with “Ambassador Huckabee.” He additionally adopted another olive tree in honor of his daughter, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

The “My Tree in Israel” initiative enables supporters of Israel around the world to back the country’s farmers by adopting olive trees, grapevines, or shares in whiskey casks. The program is designed to bolster Israel’s agricultural communities while providing direct support to the nation’s local economy.

{Matzav.com}