Synopsis
Israel has confirmed the identification of Oded Lifshitz, one of the oldest hostages, alongside a mother and her two sons, after their release by Hamas. This tragic news has led to a wave of mourning throughout the nation.Key Takeaways
- Oded Lifshitz identified as one of the oldest hostages.
- His remains were returned by the Red Cross.
- A mourning ceremony was held in Gaza.
- Concerns about potential booby traps were raised.
- Negotiations for remaining hostages are set to begin.
Jerusalem, Feb 21 (NationPress) Israel has confirmed the identification of the remains of Oded Lifshitz, one of the oldest captives in Gaza, along with those of a mother and her two sons after their release by Hamas.
Lifshitz, an 83-year-old retired journalist and peace advocate, was reported to have been killed while held by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, according to a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office on Thursday.
Chen Kugel, who leads Israel's National Centre of Forensic Medicine, indicated that Lifshitz was murdered in captivity in Gaza over a year ago but did not provide specific details about the cause of death. The Islamic Jihad previously asserted that he fell victim to an Israeli strike, as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
The remains of three additional hostages—presumed to be baby Kfir, his four-year-old sibling Ariel, and their mother, Shiri Bibas—are still in the process of being identified, Kugel added.
These four bodies were transferred to the Red Cross, marking the first handover since a ceasefire was established on January 19. Following their receipt, Israeli forces scanned the coffins with X-ray equipment due to concerns that they may have been booby-trapped by Hamas, as reported by Israel's state channel Kan TV, citing a security official.
A brief mourning ceremony was organized by the military in Gaza, with soldiers firing ceremonial shots into the air. The bodies, draped in Israeli flags, were subsequently moved to the National Centre of Forensic Medicine.
The news of the recovery led to widespread mourning throughout Israel. Citizens gathered along the route as the coffins departed from Gaza, displaying Israeli flags and tying yellow ribbons, which symbolize the ongoing campaign to bring home the hostages.
Outside the forensic center in southern Tel Aviv, mourners sang the Israeli national anthem as police vehicles escorted the bodies. In Hostage Square, near the military headquarters in central Tel Aviv, crowds assembled to mourn, holding flags while images of the remaining captives were shown on a large screen.
The Lifshitz family stated, “Our family’s healing process will commence now and will continue until every last hostage is returned.”
Israel did not release any Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the bodies; however, online videos depicted trucks transporting caravans and heavy machinery entering Gaza through the Rafah crossing. Hamas has claimed that Israel is obstructing the entry of equipment necessary to clear war debris, which the United Nations estimates to be around 50 million tonnes.
Hamas is anticipated to release six living hostages on Saturday in exchange for hundreds of other Palestinians detained by Israel as part of the ceasefire arrangement.
The release of the remaining living hostages in Gaza is expected to take place during the second phase of the ceasefire negotiations, which are set to commence this week, according to Israel.
