Israeli family mourns 'man of peace' as body returned from Gaza

Sharon Lifschitz, a British-Israeli citizen residing in East London, never gave up hope for the safe return of her 84-year-old father, Oded, after he was held hostage by Hamas for over 500 days. Oded, a pacifist, had long advocated for the Palestinians and was considered a friend to them. His dedication to peace was unwavering.

However, devastating news arrived: Oded was abducted from his home by Palestinian gunmen on October 7th and died in captivity after being taken to Gaza. His body was returned on Thursday, a crushing blow to Ms. Lifschitz and her family, especially her mother, Yocheved, who was also held hostage but released and now cannot reunite with her husband of 63 years. The family is now grappling with immense grief.

The head of the Israeli National Institute of Forensic Medicine confirmed Oded's remains, stating that he had been killed in captivity over a year ago. A statement from the Israeli Prime Minister's Office said he was "murdered by Islamic Jihad terrorists." The circumstances surrounding his death are now under investigation.

When a ceasefire agreement was announced last month, a BBC reporter interviewed the filmmaker and scholar Sharon at her home. At the time, she wept with joy because she finally saw a glimmer of hope in learning about her father's fate. She had been unable to ascertain whether he was alive or dead for over a year after he was taken hostage. The hope was that he would be released soon.

Sharon Lifschitz admitted at the time that, given her father's age, the chances of his survival were slim, but she still believed that "miracles happen." She consistently called for the release of her father and other hostages in a clear and dignified voice, revealing the trauma faced by the hostage families since the ordeal began. She said, "One way or another, we will know. We will know if he is alive, if we can still care for him. We will know who we should mourn… My father shouldn't have been treated like this." But she also realized that there would be "more graves." Now, one of them will belong to her father. The family is devastated by this news.

Oded Lifschitz was a journalist and a veteran peace activist who used to drive sick Palestinians to Israeli hospitals for treatment. He met with Yasser Arafat, then leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), in his campaign to fight for Palestinian rights. He helped establish the Nir Oz kibbutz, where he lived and from where he was taken hostage. There, he was known for growing cacti, playing the piano, and doting on his grandchildren. His contributions to the community were significant.

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said in a eulogy that he was "deeply saddened" by Oded's death and offered his "heartfelt condolences" to his family. Sir Keir said: "When I met Sharon in Downing Street, she showed extraordinary strength in the most difficult circumstances. The news of her father's death is a tragedy. I hope his efforts to bring peace to the region through charity work and activism can be realized." His legacy will continue to inspire others.

In the October 7th attacks, approximately 1,200 people, mainly civilians, were killed, and another 251, including Oded and Yocheved, were taken hostage back to Gaza. In response, Israel launched a massive military operation against Hamas, which, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, has killed at least 48,297 Palestinians, mainly civilians. The conflict has had devastating consequences.

In addition to Oded, Hamas also released three other bodies on Thursday – which Hamas claimed were those of 33-year-old Shiri Bibas and her two young sons, Ariel and Kfir. But on Thursday night, the Israeli military accused Hamas of handing over the body of an unidentified person instead of Ms. Bibas's body. The Israel Defense Forces said: "During the identification process, it was determined that the additional body received was not that of Shiri Bibas, and no other identities matching the hostages were found." The situation remains unclear.

Oded's wife, Yocheved, who was released by Hamas in 2023, met with then-Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in an underground tunnel in Gaza and told him he should be ashamed of himself. A British lawyer supporting the family said: "Yocheved must be the only person who has met Sinwar, Netanyahu, and the Pope, and has expressed her opinion of them all. She is such an extraordinary person." Her strength is admirable.

On Wednesday, when she received a peace prize for her efforts to free the hostages, she said: "Oded was a great warrior for peace. He had a very good relationship with the Palestinians, and what is most heartbreaking is that they betrayed him." His family said they can now mourn a husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, but after experiencing "503 days of agonizing uncertainty," they had "hoped and prayed for a different outcome." The family is now in mourning.