Relatives of Shiri Bibas and her murdered children accuse Iran’s leaders of genocide, demanding international justice for aiding Hamas’ October 7 atrocities.
A relative of Shiri Bibas and her two young sons, Ariel and Kfir—abducted and brutally murdered by Hamas on October 7, 2023—has filed a landmark complaint at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, charging the Iranian regime with genocide.
The filing, submitted earlier this month on behalf of the Bibas family, accuses Iran of crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide for its direct support of Hamas’ massacre in Israel. It specifically names Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and IRGC Quds Force commander Esmail Qaani as responsible for enabling the atrocities.
“The IRGC, at the direction of the Iranian regime and specifically Khamenei and Qaani, knowingly and intentionally provided weapons to Hamas for the purpose of killing Jews, Israelis, and other affiliated members of a protected group,” the complaint declares.
The Bibas children—red-headed toddlers whose faces came to symbolize Israel’s anguish during the hostage crisis—were murdered alongside their mother while in Hamas captivity. Their father, Yarden Bibas, was also kidnapped but later released in February as part of a hostage deal.
The legal action was spearheaded by Eli Rosenbaum, former U.S. Justice Department war-crimes prosecutor, and human-rights attorney Elliot Malin. The petition demands ICC prosecutors open a formal investigation and issue arrest warrants for Khamenei and Qaani.
Evidence cited includes Hamas’ own acknowledgments of Iranian backing, as well as U.S. intelligence findings on Tehran’s financing and arming of regional terror groups.
While Khamenei publicly praised the October 7 massacre, he denied Tehran’s involvement. His denial was contradicted by a Wall Street Journal report claiming Iranian officials helped plan the assault and authorized it at a meeting in Beirut. Former Iranian Vice President Mohammad Javad Zarif also tried to deflect blame, claiming Hamas acted independently of Tehran.
Although Iran is not a signatory to the ICC, the court has asserted jurisdiction over Gaza, opening the possibility of pursuing accountability for external actors fueling Hamas terror. The ICC has not yet announced whether it will move forward with the Bibas family’s complaint.
For Israel, the case represents not only a demand for justice for one of its most heart-wrenching tragedies—but also a chance to hold the world’s leading state sponsor of terror accountable before international law.
