**Body of Israeli Journalist Returned After Being Held Captive for 503 Days**
The body of Oded Lifshitz, an Israeli journalist who was held captive by Palestinian gunmen for over a year and a half, has been returned to his family. Lifshitz’s daughter, Sharone, said that bringing her father back home and being able to bury him was a “profound” experience.
Lifshitz, 83, was taken hostage along with his mother, Yocheved, from their home in October 2023. While his mother was released after 503 days, Lifshitz remained captive and died under unclear circumstances.
The Israeli government had initially claimed that Lifshitz was murdered in captivity by the Islamic Jihad terrorist group. However, Sharone said that it’s not what they were hoping for, but it brought relief to know that her father is no longer suffering.
**Hundreds Gather to Pay Respects**
A memorial service was held at the JW3 Community Centre in London, where hundreds of people, including MPs and Foreign Office Minister Hamish Falconer, paid their respects to Lifshitz. The Chief Rabbi and other British-Israeli families also attended the event.
Sharone emphasized the importance of reuniting all families with their relatives, whether they are still alive or have been killed in captivity by Hamas. She said that receiving her father’s remains back and being able to say goodbye was “incredibly significant” for her family.
**Calls for Release of Remaining Hostages**
The temporary truce between Israel and Hamas ended on March 1, with Hamas releasing 25 Israeli hostages who were still alive and eight hostages who had been killed during its attacks against Israel. However, the talks to extend the ceasefire or release more hostages have not yet reached an agreement.
Sharone called for the release of all remaining hostages, both living and dead, so that families can bury their loved ones. She said that her father was held alive in Gaza for over a year and was injured for several months before his death.
**A Life Dedicated to Peace**
Lifshitz was an Israeli journalist and peace campaigner who had driven sick Palestinians from Gaza to Israel’s hospitals for treatment. He had met Yasser Arafat, the then-leader of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, in his efforts to protect Palestinian rights.
Sharone, who has been campaigning for her parents’ release since October 7, said that her father spent his entire life in the peace movement and fought to make it possible for both Israelis and Palestinians to live side by side.