The body of a UK-linked hostage, Oded Lifschitz, is among those believed to have been returned to Israel on Thursday morning.
Dr Lifschitz, 84, of Walthamstow, east London, was taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz during the Hamas October 7 attack. Since then, his family has received no information as to his whereabouts.
In a statement on Thursday morning, the lawyer for Dr Lisfchitz, Adam Wagner, said: “Today, 20 February 2025, is one of immense sadness, and of failure. It appears that 503 days after they were taken from their homes by Hamas terrorists, the bodies of four people have been returned to Israel”
“It is understood that three of those bodies are of Shiri Bibas, and her two little children, Ariel and her baby, Kfir. We are horrified at their deaths.”
“The fourth body is believed to be that of Oded Lifshitz, aged 84, whose daughter, our client Dr Sharone Lifschitz, is British, and whose wife, Yocheved … was freed in October 2023, also after being taken hostage.”
Sharone Lifschitz holds a photograph of herself with her father, Oded Lifshitz, who was abducted by Hamas militants, at her home in London, Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
However, the statement later says that “we cannot confirm yet whose bodies have been returned”.
Mr Wagner described Dr Lifschitz as a man whose “life has always been dedicated to peace”.
Stella Creasey, the MP for Walthamstow where Dr Lifschitz lives, says that she was “heartbroken”, and described the news as a “devastating blow”.
She also added “We had hoped for a miracle, to be able to welcome Oded Lifschitz back to his family and to join them in Walthamstow”.
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HeadlineBody of Walthamstow resident, 84, believed to be returned by Hamas
Short HeadlineBody of Walthamstow man, 84, believed to be returned by Hamas
StandfirstThe body of Oded Lifschitz is thought to be one of the four deceased hostages returned by Hamas on Thursday.
The body of a UK-linked hostage, Oded Lifschitz, is among those believed to have been returned to Israel on Thursday morning.
Dr Lifschitz, 84, of Walthamstow, east London, was taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz during the Hamas October 7 attack. Since then, his family has received no information as to his whereabouts.
In a statement on Thursday morning, the lawyer for Dr Lisfchitz, Adam Wagner, said: “Today, 20 February 2025, is one of immense sadness, and of failure. It appears that 503 days after they were taken from their homes by Hamas terrorists, the bodies of four people have been returned to Israel”
“It is understood that three of those bodies are of Shiri Bibas, and her two little children, Ariel and her baby, Kfir. We are horrified at their deaths.”
“The fourth body is believed to be that of Oded Lifshitz, aged 84, whose daughter, our client Dr Sharone Lifschitz, is British, and whose wife, Yocheved … was freed in October 2023, also after being taken hostage.”
Sharone Lifschitz holds a photograph of herself with her father, Oded Lifshitz, who was abducted by Hamas militants, at her home in London, Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
However, the statement later says that “we cannot confirm yet whose bodies have been returned”.
Mr Wagner described Dr Lifschitz as a man whose “life has always been dedicated to peace”.
Stella Creasey, the MP for Walthamstow where Dr Lifschitz lives, says that she was “heartbroken”, and described the news as a “devastating blow”.
She also added “We had hoped for a miracle, to be able to welcome Oded Lifschitz back to his family and to join them in Walthamstow”.
