Israel Grieves as Bodies of Four Kidnapped Citizens Returned
20 February 2023
This Thursday, February 20th, marks a somber day for Israel as the remains of four Israeli citizens, abductees of the October 7th, 2023 Hamas attack, make their final journey home as part of a ceasefire agreement in effect since January 19th.
The bodies, which have yet to be officially identified by Israel, are believed to be those of Ariel, Kfir, and Shiri Bibas, as well as Oded Lifshitz. Four coffins bearing their photographs were displayed in Khan Younis before being handed over to the Red Cross.
The Bibas Family: A Symbol of Israeli Resilience
The Bibas family, whose red-haired children became symbols of rallies demanding the release of the hostages, epitomizes the anguish endured by Israelis abducted by Palestinian terrorist groups. Ariel was 4 years old on the day of the attack, his younger brother Kfir only 8 months, and their mother Shiri 33. The father of the Bibas family, Yarden, 35, who was released on February 1st, had been kidnapped with his wife and children at Kibbutz Nir Oz, where 35 residents were killed and 80 others were abducted out of a total of 400.
According to the Israeli military, the Bibas family was being held by a Palestinian group other than Hamas. The terrorist organization announced Shiri Bibas and her children’s deaths in a November 2023 Israeli airstrike in Gaza, but Israel never confirmed this. The mother and two young boys were the only female and child hostages remaining in Gaza and were included in the list of 33 hostages to be released during the first phase of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
Oded Lifshitz: A Man of Peace and Community
The fourth body handed over to the Red Cross is believed to be that of Oded Lifshitz, who was 83 years old at the time of the attack. He too was abducted along with his wife, Yocheved Lifshitz, from Kibbutz Nir Oz, which he helped establish. During his kidnapping, Lifshitz was shot and injured in the hand, causing him to lose consciousness.
Lifshitz was a journalist, a prominent figure in the kibbutz movement, and a peace activist. He volunteered for the organization "Road to Recovery," which transports sick Palestinian children to Israeli hospitals. His wife, Yocheved Lifshitz, was released only a few days after their October 7th abduction.
Confirmation and Remembrance
The Forum of Hostage Families announced Wednesday, February 19th, in the evening that they had been informed of the deaths of the two Bibas children, their mother Shiri, and Oded Lifshitz, without specifying the circumstances. The Abu Kabir Forensic Institute in Tel Aviv will confirm the identities of the remains following the tributes that will be paid to them throughout the day.
As Israel grieves the loss of these four citizens, the nation stands in solidarity with their families and condemns the barbaric acts of terrorism that led to their untimely demise. The return of their bodies marks a bittersweet moment, as it brings closure to their families while reminding Israel of the ongoing plight of its abducted citizens.
