Kibbutz Nir Oz, February 25, 2025 – Hundreds gathered at the small cemetery in Kibbutz Nir Oz on Tuesday to bid farewell to Oded Lifshitz, a founding member of the kibbutz who died while being held hostage in Gaza.
His body was returned by Hamas to Israeli authorities on Thursday as part of an ongoing ceasefire agreement aimed at securing the release of hostages and halting the war in Gaza.
Lifshitz, 83 years old at the time of his capture, was taken hostage from his home during Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel. His wife, Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, was also kidnapped but released after 18 days.
His funeral was attended by Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who addressed mourners and asked for forgiveness.
“Forgiveness That We Did Not Protect You”
In an emotional speech, Herzog expressed deep regret for the suffering Lifshitz endured in captivity.
“Forgiveness that the State of Israel did not protect you, your family, and your kibbutz. Forgiveness that in the face of such inhuman cruelty, you were left to stand alone. Forgiveness that we did not manage to rescue you and bring you and all your friends home safely, out of the clutches of the murderers. I ask forgiveness.”
Several Israeli artists performed at the ceremony, while family members and close friends delivered heartfelt eulogies.
A Legacy of Journalism and Humanitarianism
Lifshitz was a respected journalist and a longtime advocate for Palestinian rights. He spent much of his career writing for the now-defunct Al Hamishmar, a left-leaning newspaper associated with the kibbutz movement.
Throughout his life, he championed peace efforts and defended Palestinian communities. In 1972, he advocated for Bedouins expelled from the Sinai Peninsula. A decade later, he was one of the first journalists to report on the Sabra and Shatila massacres in Lebanon, where between 800 and 2,000 Palestinians were killed by Israeli-backed militias.
In recent years, Lifshitz worked with Road to Recovery, an organization that helps Palestinians receive medical treatment in Israel.
Bibas Family to Be Buried Wednesday
The funeral came just days after three more hostages from Kibbutz Nir Oz—Shiri Bibas and her two young sons, Ariel (4) and Kfir (9 months)—were confirmed dead and their bodies returned.
Their deaths have sent shockwaves through Israel, as Kfir Bibas was the youngest hostage taken on October 7. The three will be laid to rest on Wednesday.
Ongoing Hostage Crisis
On October 7, Hamas and allied militants took 251 hostages during their attack. So far, 62 remain in Gaza, including 35 who are presumed dead, according to the Israeli military.
Hen Avigdori, whose wife and daughter were among those kidnapped but later freed in a previous ceasefire, attended Lifshitz’s funeral to show solidarity.
“It should have ended differently, he should be here with us,” he told AFP. “Sadly, this is not my first, second, or last visit to the cemetery of Nir Oz.”
Avigdori said the kibbutz had become a painful symbol of suffering and neglect, as families wait desperately for their loved ones to return.
