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Hamas claims youngest Israeli hostages aged just 2 & 5 and their mum are all dead leaving Bibas family in ‘turmoil’

THE FAMILY of a mum and her two sons held captive by Hamas in Gaza are in “turmoil” as the terror group claimed they are dead and their bodies will be sent back to Israel.

Ariel Bibas, five, and his baby brother Kfir, two, were snatched with their mother Shiri, 33, during the terrorist group’s bloody rampage on October 7.

A woman holding two young children, crying.
Ian Whittaker
Mum Shiri Bibas was seen desperately clutching to Kfir and his brother Ariel as they were kidnapped on October 7[/caption]
Family in Batman pajamas.
Supplied
Yarden and Shiri Bibas with their two young boys before the family became hostages[/caption]
The Bibas family: father Yarden, mother Shiri, and their two children.
Ofri Levy
The Bibas family, father Yarden, mother Shiri, baby Kfir and four-year-old Ariel were taken captive by Hamas terrorists[/caption]
The Bibas family: father Yarden, mother Shiri, baby Kfir, and four-year-old Ariel.
Handout
The Bibas family, father Yarden, mother Shiri, baby Kfir and four-year-old Ariel[/caption]

Their father Yarden, 35, was also taken after Hamas brutes smashed him over the head with a hammer.

Shiri’s despairing face as she was kidnapped clutching her two children became a symbol for the horror of Oct 7.

And meanwhile Kfir’s adorable smile gave hope as the whole world pleaded for their safe return.

But now Hamas appear to have confirmed the worst – saying the trio’s dead bodies will be released along with six living hostages on Thursday.

Israel have yet to confirm the identities of those to be released.

The Bibas family released a statement shortly after Hamas’ claim saying they are “in turmoil”.

“Until we receive definitive confirmation, our journey is not over,” the family said.

Yarden Bibas, Shiri’s husband and the boys’ father, was freed earlier on February 1.

He spent 484 days in Gaza’s terror tunnels on his own, as he was quickly separated from his family.

Relatives had not had proof of life for months even for Shiri and the boys.

And they had been fearing the worst when the terror group claimed that she and the children had been killed in an Israeli air strike and all other child hostages were released.

But there was no proof that they were dead so the family clung to the slim hope that they were alive as they campaigned for their freedom.

That hope was extinguished with confirmation that the mother and boys – who had been on the list for release in the first six-week phase of the ceasefire – were dead.

The family sheltered inside their home on Kibbutz Nir Oz when Hamas fiends rampaged through southern Israel on October 7.

They kept anxious relatives elsewhere in Israel updated by text message as gunmen stormed through neighbours’ homes.

At 9.43am accountant Yarden messaged his sister, occupational therapist Ofri Bibas Levy, 38, to say: “They’re coming in.”

She never heard from him again.

Hamas fighters hand over an Israeli hostage.
Alamy
The moment Yarden, 34, was finally freed earlier this month after 484 days in captivity[/caption]
Smiling baby holding a pink stuffed animal.
Baby Kfir was the youngest hostage taken by Hamas
Young boy playing with a toy.
Ariel Bibas pictured before the was kidnapped by Hamas

A short time later a horrific video emerged of Shiri looking utterly terrified and crying as she clung to her two sons while Hamas gunmen led them away from the family home.

Moments later Yarden was smashed over the head with a hammer and with blood streaming down his face was hauled to Gaza, also captured on camera and posted online.

On the one year anniversary of the massacre – when relatives were still praying for the family’s safe return – Ofri told The Sun: “The last year has been a nightmare.

“I could never imagine something like that would happen to me and my family.

“We live every day with a constant feeling of fear – and uncertainty.

“It’s the not knowing which is the worst – are they alive? Are they dead? Are they being tortured?

“Did they get to eat today, something to drink? When was the last time they even saw sunlight?”

After the terror group claimed that Shiri and the boys were dead, she said: “It was a real shock to hear that but after a few days we thought okay, they say that, but we don’t know for sure.

“And even if there is a 1% chance of that not being true, we decided as a family that we’re going to keep fighting and keep demanding and keep shouting for them.

Older child in a Batman costume holding a baby in a Batman costume.
Supplied
The family sheltered inside their home on Kibbutz Nir Oz when Hamas fiends rampaged through southern Israel[/caption]
A woman holds her baby son, who is wearing a car-themed onesie.  The background shows other people.
Ian Whittaker
Mum Shiri was kidnapped with her two sons Ariel (not pictured) and Kfir[/caption]

“That keeps us able to still hope in some way.”

Photos from brighter times before October 7 show a typical, happy family, the young boys laughing and smiling as they play with each other and their parents.

In one cute snap, the parents and their sons cuddle up on a sofa all wearing Batman outfits.

Before they received the tragic news, Ofri said: “Ariel is a fully energetic boy who loves tractors and vehicles and superheroes and playing with any kind of water.

“His red head gets a lot of attention everywhere he goes. But he’s also very shy.

“Kfir was a sweet baby, very cuddly and he loved to be tickled. He was very cute.

“Yarden and Shiri are the most amazing parents.”

Heartbreakingly, two-year-old Kfir never celebrated a birthday outside of Gaza.

The family had urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for months to strike a ceasefire deal which would see the hostages return home.

They were delighted when it was finally signed but had mixed emotions because they still had no idea if the family was alive.

Israel announced it will receive the bodies of four hostages from Hamas on 20 February.

They did not release their names but said the families had been informed.

Tragically for the Bibas family, it was later confirmed that Shiri, Ariel and Kfir were among the dead.

What happened on October 7?

ON OCTOBER 7, 2023, Hamas launched a brutal surprise attack on Israel, marking one of the darkest days in the nation’s history.

Terrorists stormed across the border from Gaza, killing over 1,200 people — most of them civilians — and kidnapping 250 others, including women, children, and the elderly.

The coordinated assault saw heavily armed fighters infiltrate Israeli towns, kibbutzim, and military bases, unleashing indiscriminate violence.

Innocent families were slaughtered in their homes, and graphic footage of the atrocities spread across social media, leaving the world in shock.

And as well as attacking people in their homes, they stormed the Nova music peace festival – killing at least 364 people there alone.

The massacre triggered a swift and massive retaliatory response from Israel, escalating into a full-scale war.

The attack not only reignited long-standing tensions in the region but also left deep scars on both sides of the conflict, setting the stage for the 15 months of devastation that followed.

Person holding photos of a couple and their two children.
AP
Yifat Zailer shows photos of her cousin, Shiri Bibas, center, her husband Yarden, left, and their sons Ariel, top right, and Kfir, who were held hostage by Hamas militants[/caption]
Protestors holding signs demanding the release of hostages Shiri and Yarden Bibas and their children.
Reuters
Protesters hold signs as they call for the immediate release of hostages[/caption]

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Who was Kate Meyrick? Single mother who inspired Dope Girls drug drama

KATE Meyrick embarked on building a nightclub empire as the Great War came to an end — earning a reputation as “The most dangerous woman in London.”

Here we take a look at the life and crimes of the entrepreneurial trailblazer, which have been dramatised in the BBC’s Dope Girls.

Black and white photo of Mrs. Kate Meyrick.
Kate Meyrick became known as the “Queen of the Night” in 1920s London
Rex

Who was Kate Meyrick?

Kate Meyrick was born Kate Evelyn Nason in Dun Laoghaire, Ireland, on August 7, 1875.

She was an infamous club owner who became known as the “Queen of the Night” in 1920s London.

Her journey from a respectable doctor’s wife to a notorious nightclub proprietor began after her separation from her husband in 1918.

As the single mother of eight children, she found herself struggling financially with a weekly allowance of less than £1.

Determined to support her family, in 1919 she entered the nightclub business, opening her first venue — Dalton’s in Leicester Square.

Rise to prominence

Over the next decade, Kate became a central figure in London’s vibrant nightlife scene.

She operated several clubs, including the famous 43 Club on Gerrard Street, which attracted gangsters, call girls and IRA members.

It also welcomed showbiz stars such as Hollywood bigshots Rudolf Valentino and Tallulah Bankhead.

She scandalised society by creating safe spaces where, behind closed doors, women could also indulge in sex and booze, and gained a reputation as “The most dangerous woman in London”.

Kate’s illicit empire of nightspots were locations where hedonists could also access the booming recreational drugs market.

Prostitution was rife and girls inside her clubs were known as Meyricks Merrye Maids.

Novelist Evelyn Waugh even used Kate as the inspiration for the character of Ma Mayfield — who ran a club called the Old Hundredth — in his 1945 novel Brideshead Revisited.

‘Ma’ Meyrick’s establishment was often infiltrated by police in evening clothes, posing as the tipsy aftermath of regimental dinners or bachelor parties

David NivenThe Moon’s A Balloon

In his autobiography, actor David Niven opened up about losing his virginity at the age of 14 to Nessie — a 17-year-old dancer from the 43 Club.

He wrote in his 1971 memoir, The Moon’s A Balloon: “She had to be on hand in evening dress as a ‘dancing partner’, making a fuss of the rather high-class clientele and persuading them to buy champagne at exorbitant prices.

“She was not allowed to solicit on the premises — a rule that was strictly enforced because ‘Ma’ Meyrick’s establishment was often infiltrated by police in evening clothes, posing as the tipsy aftermath of regimental dinners or bachelor parties.

“But contacts were easily enough made and Nessie soon built up the basis of an enthusiastic clientele.”

Man in tuxedo winking and holding a cocktail glass.
David Niven recalled lost his virginity to a dancer from the 43 Club

Kate is understood to have made as much as £500,000 during her impressive career — equivalent to roughly £17 million today.

Legal troubles

Kate’s career was marked by frequent run-ins with the law.

She served five prison sentences and faced numerous fines for violating licensing regulations and selling alcohol illegally.

Despite these setbacks, she continued to operate her clubs, often reopening them under different names shortly after being shut down.

Black and white photo of Kate Meyrick and two of her daughters walking in Monte Carlo.
Getty
Kate Meyrick pictured with two of her daughters in Monte Carlo[/caption]

She passed away on January 19, 1933, at the age of 57.

Her funeral took place in famed West End church St Martin-in-the-Fields, and theatres and clubs dimmed their lights out of respect.

Dope Girls

The BBC‘s drama series Dope Girls was partly inspired by Kate’s story.

While she herself was not involved in drug trafficking, the series draws on the broader context of female-led criminal enterprises in early 20th century London.

Woman with large feathered wings.
BBC
Dope Girls was partly inspired by Kate Meyrick’s story[/caption]

The show explores the story of a conservative, god-fearing 42-year-old single mother who builds a nightclub empire, mirroring aspects of Kate’s life.

The dark six-part series is based on Marek Kohn’s 1992 book Dope Girls: The Birth of the British Drug Underground, which follows the penniless women as they hit up the underground Soho club scene.

Despite its title, the book is not about drug gangs run by women.

However, in reality, there are no records of female-led drug gangs in London during this period — so there may not have been any at all.

The Forty Elephants was a notorious all-female gang that operated in London from the 1870s through the 1920s and beyond.

Led by Alice Diamond in the 1920s, they specialised in shoplifting luxury goods.

They broke away from the male-led Forty Theives gang, which operated from the London borough of Elephant & Castle.

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‘Real reason’ Meg renamed brand to ‘As Ever’ is a HUGE faux pas – it’s flopped before she’s even started, PR pro slams

MEGHAN Markle’s sudden company rebrand is a “huge faux pas”, especially when she’s got major backers like Netflix to keep happy, says an expert.

The Duchess of Sussex announced on Instagram her upcoming lifestyle company American Riviera Orchard is changing its name to As Ever weeks before the launch.

Close-up of Meghan Markle smiling.
Instagram
Meghan Markle in the new video[/caption]
Close-up of Meghan Markle wearing a white shirt.
Instagram
Harry can be heard off camera telling her ‘it’s recording’[/caption]
A woman and child walking on a grassy lawn, with palm trees and text overlay reading "As ever".
The As Ever website shows a rare photo of Harry and Meghan’s daughter Lilibet

It comes after a royal expert told The Sun, the name change exemplifies how Meghan is always “jumping in” without enough thought – and said the inclusion of Lilibet is shameless.

The duchess, 43, is due to tie in the brand with her upcoming cookery show With Love, Meghan for the streaming giant.

Some products, including homemade jams, have already been sent to Meghan’s pals with the old branding.

The name hit a stumbling block last year after the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) partially refused a trademark application for its name.

Meghan was told by officials she can’t have exclusive rights to the term “American Riviera” because it is a commonly used place name to describe Santa Barbara, where the duchess grew up. 

Nick Ede, brand and culture expert, told The Sun: “It’s a pretty big issue. If you’re going to be doing a deal with Netflix – making millions for yourself, but also for somebody else… 

“This huge faux pas where you’ve literally [sent out] your jams with the label saying American Riviera Orchard, and you’ve also created an Instagram site and a website.

“That’s a really big business issue, and because it’s being played publicly, obviously so many people are discussing it.

“It really looks like the business has flopped before it’s even [launched].”

Mr Ede also said to be having to change tact in such a huge way so quickly “is crazy for a brand that’s actually not even been released yet”.

“So it just feels like a really bad faulty start that she had and hopefully this new rebrand will do well, but I think time will tell,” he added.

No products have yet been made available to purchase, and the ‘As Ever’ name was registered in 2022.

Meghan didn’t touch on the specifics of why she’d changed the brand name in her announcement video, instead suggesting it was solely down to avoiding “limiting” what she could sell.

Mr Ede said: “I do think that maybe she should have just been as honest as possible about the trademark issues.”

Meghan also referred to her old lifestyle blog The Tig, which was taken down after she became a working royal in 2018.

Mr Ede said it could prove a difficult sell because the average person probably never knew about the defunct blog until after it was pulled.

“Who remembers The Tig?” he said. “It wasn’t particularly big, it didn’t go across the world…

“Are the fans of Meghan, who used to know her for The Tig still the same fans who used to buy into her? Do they still buy into her? 

“I think it’s a very different world now, and I think maybe she’ll come up against that, because people might not believe or buy into what she’s talking about.”

He went on to say, “one of the biggest hurdles is actually Meghan herself”, referring to how she appears to live in a bubble when it comes to making business decisions.

“She talks about going back to her glory days… like I’m going back to basics guys. 

“Well, actually, they don’t know where your basics are, because one of your basics is you were in the Royal Family. Next is, you’re an actress. 

“Next is that you’re a charity ambassador, and the next is that you’re slagging off a lot of people. So who are you?”

Mr Ede said the success of the upcoming show can’t be understated because its popularity is largely going to decide if As Ever can stay afloat.

“There’s no identity to it yet,” he said.

“There’s a lot that’s relying on this, and yes, you might get eyeballs on a TV show. But does that convert to sales? I’m not too sure whether it does.” 

Mr Ede said “everything is really hinging” on the Netflix show. “It’s so important for her to have this successful,” he explained. 

“It’s so important for Netflix to have people watching it, and you know Netflix are gambling at the moment with creating their own shopping environments, their own standalone stores, etc, which they’re piloting at moment in America. 

“So for them this is really important for Megan to be part of their Netflix universe.”

Mr Ede said another issue is people backing a new brand will be talking about “bragging rights”.

“Your bragging rights is when you say that you’ve got something, and you kind of feel that you’re a little bit elevated because you have it. 

“Do you have bragging rights in having something that Meghan Markle’s put her name to? 

“I don’t think at the moment people do, because she polarises so many people. She’s not this ubiquitously loved person.”

What do we know about Meghan Markle's new cooking show, With Love, Meghan?

MEGHAN Markle's new Netflix documentary trailer shows her cooking with Hollywood pals.

The Duchess of Sussex gave fans an insight into her show, With Love, Meghan, which airs on January 15.

There will be eight 33 minute episodes featuring a host of Meg’s various Hollywood friends trying her simple, yet “elevated”, food.

A montage of various clips in the nearly two minute video showed Meghan walking through vegetable patches and fields.

She was also filmed browsing through florists hand selecting beautiful flowers for table arrangements, showing off her creative side.

The Duchess even tried her hand at beekeeping, fully suited up, as she collected honey.

In the exciting new trailer, Meghan shared: “I’ve always loved taking something pretty ordinary and elevating it.

“Surprising people with moments that let them know I was really thinking of them.

“I’m going to share some little tips and tricks. I see what colour I gravitate to, and everything goes from there. And how you incorporate these practices every day.

“This is about connecting with friends.. I love that we’re doing this together for the first time. Making new friends.. and just learning.

 “We’re not in the pursuit of perfection. We’re in the pursuit of joy. I have to get it totally wrong, to get it totally right.”

The trailer showcased many “candid” moments, from Meghan accidentally squeezing some lemon juice in her eye, to knocking freshly baked goodies off a plate.

Prince Harry featured at the end of the video, embracing his wife in a warm hug.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at a wheelchair basketball game.
The Mega Agency
Meghan and Prince Harry during Invictus Games in Vancouver last week[/caption]
Illustration of a logo featuring a palm tree and two birds.
The As Ever logo
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, waving at an event.
Splash
Some people have accused the mum-of-two for making it the ‘Meghan show’[/caption]
Meghan Markle in a kitchen, smiling.
COURTESY OF NETFLIX
The trailer for With Love, Meghan has been released, with the show launching next month[/caption]

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