A hidden sacrifice: Mother reveals son died in failed operation to rescue Bibas family

It was later determined that Shiri Bibas and her two children, Ariel and Kfir, had tragically been murdered by terrorists months before the mission took place.

By Eliana Fleming, JFeed

During a recent Memorial Day ceremony, Yafit Goshen shared the painful and heroic details of her son’s final mission, confirming that he fell while attempting to rescue Shiri Bibas and her two young children from captivity in the Gaza Strip.

For over two years, the family of Staff Sergeant Uriah Goshen lived with the knowledge of his passing without knowing the full scale of the heroism involved in his final moments.

It was only during the opening ceremony for Memorial Day events at Yad Labanim that his mother, Yafit, revealed the specific circumstances surrounding his death in January 2024.

Uriah, a dedicated fighter in the Givati Reconnaissance Unit, lost his life during Operation Red Heart, a dangerous and high-stakes mission aimed at bringing the Bibas family home.

It was later determined that Shiri Bibas and her two children, Ariel and Kfir, had tragically been murdered by terrorists months before the mission took place.

Despite this harrowing reality, Yafit Goshen spoke with pride about her son’s commitment to the mission.

She described him as a natural leader who grew up with a deep love for Israel and a desire to connect people regardless of their background or identity.

Uriah was known for his idealism and his history of volunteering, even playing music for hospital patients, embodying the spirit of a true defender of justice.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other state leaders attended the ceremony, where the sacrifice of soldiers like Uriah was honored as the bedrock of Israel’s existence.

Uriah’s parents, Yafit and Aiove, expressed that while they only recently learned the nature of the operation, they remain committed to the message of unity that their son championed throughout his life.

His legacy, and the tragic circumstances of his death during a mission to rescue civilians from the hands of terrorists, continue to resonate as a powerful symbol of the nation’s ongoing struggle and the profound dedication of those serving in the Israel Defense Forces.