Israel Mourns Oded Lifshitz as His Funeral Draws Hundreds to Kibbutz Nir Oz

Edited by: Fern Sidman

The funeral of Israeli hostage Oded Lifshitz got underway in his hometown of Kibbutz Nir Oz on Tuesday afternoon, five days after his remains were returned from the Gaza Strip for burial by the Hamas terrorist group, according to report on The Jewish News Syndicate web site.

Israelis holding flags lined the streets as Lifshitz’s casket made its way from the central city of Rishon Lezion to Nir Oz, local media reported.

“With a heavy heart and deep sorrow, we say goodbye to Oded Lifshitz, murdered by vile murderers,” said Rishon Lezion Mayor Raz Kinstlich. “Oded was a pioneer and founder of Kibbutz Nir Oz—a man of the people and the land—and the entire country grieves his death.”

When the coffin passed by the Sa’ad Junction in Israel’s south, mourners sang the national anthem, according to the Ynet news outlet.

The ceremony at the kibbutz, which was open to the public, drew hundreds of attendees, including Israeli President Isaac Herzog who said:

“I stand here, on the soil of your homeland, as President of the State of Israel, on behalf of the State of Israel, I ask you—beloved Oded, I ask Yocheved and your dear family—for forgiveness. 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.

“I ask this forgiveness with humility, also from all of you — courageous and noble members of Kibbutz Nir Oz. As President of the State of Israel, in this painful and agonizing moment, I bow my head before you and ask forgiveness from you all: forgiveness that on that cursed day, we were not there for you. Forgiveness for the failure and the blindness that led to the unbearable price you paid—and that we all paid.

“In these days, as we lay your loved ones to eternal rest, from every home, every path, and every heart in Nir Oz, one can hear the cries, tears of grief, and bitter weeping. And we all cry with you.

“The community of Nir Oz will live and flourish. The community of Nir Oz will be rebuilt and will rebuild,” said Herzog. “Nir Oz will continue to be a symbol—of determination, of building, of faith, and of great hope. The entire people of Israel will stand with you every step of the way.”

Israel National News reported that Arnon, Oded’s son, eulogized his father: “Dad, now you are here, you are home. You were returned in a hostage deal and it is clear to me that you would not have agreed to endanger any person in order to rescue your body. I want to tell you what you meant to me – you always ‘practiced what you preached,’ you loved everyone you knew, you were so modest, you constantly aspired to a world where everyone is equal and life is good.

“You would never have considered taking revenge against those who did this to us. You would have encouraged us to rebuild Nir Oz as our recovery, to return to ourselves, to who we were, ‘a light unto the nations.’ I miss you so much, rest in peace.”

Also noted in the INN report was that Daniel, Oded’s eldest grandson, eulogized his grandfather, “Dear grandfather, I want to start from the end. I fought as much as I could. I caught every bullet that I could and fought to save your life. You were always with me, showing me the way and teaching me. You always told me to see the good in every person. You and grandma were my grandparents, parents and my best friends.”

“I followed in your footsteps. I spoke to friends and enemies, with heads of armies and states. I was your ambassador. I was your soldier, and mainly your grandson, who loves you. In the last 500 plus days I have learned an important lesson – how amazing our nation is and how much our community is a family. I know that from up there you are still teaching us, ‘don’t miss any opportunity.’ Bring them all home. In your life and your death, you are my guide.”

Yocheved Lifshitz, Oded’s widow, also eulogized her husband at his funeral. She said, “Our abduction and your death have shaken me to the core. We fought all through the years for social justice, for peace. To my sorrow, we were hit by a terrible blow by those we helped on the other side. I stand here staggered to see the number of graves, and the terrible destruction of our community that was completely abandoned on October 7.”

Lifshitz, who was 83 at the time of his abduction, was taken from his Nir Oz home during the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, cross-border terror attack alongside his wife, Yocheved. JNS reported that the latter was released by the terror group in late 2023 as part of a ceasefire agreement with the Jewish state.

Lifshitz’s and three other bodies were handed over to the Red Cross on Feb. 20 following a propaganda ceremony in Gaza’s south attended by members of Hamas’s “military wing,”

Shiri Bibas and her children, Ariel and Kfir, whose bodies were also returned, are set to be buried in a private ceremony on Wednesday.

“Oded Lifshitz was 83 at the time of his death. We share in the family’s sorrow at this difficult hour. May his memory be blessed,” according to a statement released by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office shortly after his remains were identified.

In an earlier statement, Netanyahu stressed that “the four coffins of our loved ones oblige us more than ever to promise, to swear, that what happened on October 7 will never happen again.

“The blood of our loved ones cries out to us from the ground. It obliges us to deal with the vile murderers—and we will deal with them,” he said. “We will return all of our hostages, destroy the murderers, eliminate Hamas and together—with God’s help—we will secure our future.”

He concluded by quoting from Psalm 94: “O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongs; O God, to whom vengeance belongs, shine forth!”

Lifshitz’s funeral was more than just a moment of grief—it was a symbol of national unity, mourning, and determination. His tragic fate sheds light on the continued humanitarian crisis surrounding Israeli hostages, as dozens remain in captivity, their families waiting in anguish for their return.