In a moving tribute that brings language, memory, and national grief together, the Academy of the Hebrew Language has officially renamed the butterfly previously known as “Ketemet Yerushalayim” (Melitaea ornata) to “Ketemet Ariel”, in memory of Ariel Bibas, the 5-year-old Israeli child brutally murdered by Hamas terrorists during the October 7 massacre.
The decision was announced unanimously by the Academy’s members and conveyed in a letter sent to Ariel’s father, Yarden Bibas, who was recently released from Hamas captivity. This gesture, simple in form but profound in meaning, ensures that Ariel’s name will flutter through the wildflowers of Israel, carried forever by a native butterfly that now bears his name.
The Academy’s letter notes that of all the orange butterflies in the Land of Israel, this one was chosen to bear Ariel’s name, not only because of its color but because “Ariel” is also one of the ancient names of Jerusalem—a city synonymous with both sorrow and hope.
“May this be some small comfort in your grief,” the Academy wrote, “and may his memory be a memorial to all who perished in this great tragedy.”
Ariel, along with his baby brother Kfir, his mother Shiri, and his father Yarden, were kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023. Hamas paraded them through Gaza as trophies of terror. For months, Hamas spread lies about their condition, until the horrific truth was confirmed: Kfir and Ariel were murdered in captivity.
Ariel was remembered as a gentle, curious boy who loved butterflies. Now, that love has been immortalized. The Ketemet Ariel butterfly will serve not just as a tribute to Ariel’s short, beautiful life—it will also remind every Israeli, every visitor walking the fields of this land, that life and memory will always outshine terror and hate.
This symbolic act stands in stark contrast to the inhumanity of Hamas and its affiliates. While terrorists extinguish life, Israel responds by preserving it—honoring even the smallest victims through acts of dignity, culture, and remembrance.
The renaming of a butterfly may seem like a small gesture. But in the story of Israel—where memory is sacred and life is cherished—it speaks volumes. It says to the world that Ariel Bibas will not be forgotten. That his murder, and that of his baby brother, is not just a footnote in this war—it is a permanent scar and a call to justice.
Through Ketemet Ariel, a boy who loved butterflies will now soar forever across the hills and valleys of Israel. The terrorists who murdered him wanted his memory erased. Israel has made sure his name will live forever.
