'While we are different, we are one little Jewish world'

(JNS) - "When I stood at the Gama junction next to Re'im, the first place whereas Israelis we could see the trucks with the coffins pass, it was very emotional. I understood why they had to come back," Daniel Lifshitz told JNS.

The remains of his grandfather Oded Lifshitz were returned to Israel from the Gaza Strip last month as part of a ceasefire agreement with the Hamas terrorist organization. 

Oded was laid to rest in Kibbutz Nir Oz on Feb. 25. 

"It would have been like a very strong voice in my head that could have stayed forever if my grandfather had not come back," he added. 

On Oct. 7, five Hamas terrorists broke into the safe room where Oded and his wife, Yocheved, were sheltering in Kibbutz Nir Oz. Oded was shot in the hand and lost consciousness, while Yocheved was pulled from her bed. Both were taken to Gaza as hostages.

Yocheved was freed during weeklong ceasefire in November 2023 together with Nurit Cooper and 103 other hostages. Nurit's husband, Amiram Cooper, was killed in Hamas captivity.

Oded Lifshitz was a journalist, a prominent figure in the kibbutz movement and a peace activist. He volunteered with the Road to Recovery organization, which transports sick Palestinian children to hospitals in Israel. 

"My grandmother went through a rollercoaster of emotions because she thought [Oded] had been murdered on Oct. 7. Then, we understood that he was alive. There was a ... lack of intelligence about where he was and what his situation was. Finally, she spoke two days before he was returned, and she referred to him in the past [tense]," said Daniel Lifshitz. 

He said the return of his grandfather in a coffin was a huge failure for the international community.

"Before she was released, my grandmother was hours from dying ... in the tunnels. We're lucky to have her back. I don't understand why my grandfather wasn't released the same way," he said. 

"I don't think there were many people above 80 who were taken that had gunshot injuries. Why did they let him die, why didn't they release him? He fought all his life for peace, coexistence, education in Gaza, how come, knowing that, they did not release him?" he continued. 

"My grandfather understood that if Hamas stayed in Gaza it would become a terror state, and it did. We are very disappointed that there were no voices heard from Palestinians against what Hamas did," he added. 

Lifshitz referred to his grandfather as a fighter, not only in life but also in death. 

"My grandfather was a man who fought for the truth and justice. His funeral was also a battle and part of something bigger. In that aspect, I think he would have been proud," he told JNS. 

"It was also very important to see the unity at his funeral. We saw people from all ends of the political spectrum, religious and secular, Zionists, settlers, kibbutznikim, peace fighters. It was really impactful," he continued. 

"Although we need political will to bring about their release, the hostage issue is not a political issue, it's a bipartisan one," he said. "But the topic can't be a political one. With antisemitism growing, we need to look for unity and understand that while we are different, we are one little Jewish world, we have one country we

While Lifshitz was never too critical of the government, he said he understood every voice that called for the return of the hostages. 

"Part of our power is that we are a democratic country where everyone is free to speak. People can go out and protest and we should be proud that we can do that when we are the only country in the Middle East able to do so," he said. 

"It's the responsibility of the government to bring the hostages back, just like what happened on Oct. 7 is the responsibility of the government; they are the leadership," he said, adding, "each family takes on a different perspective." 

While his personal struggle is now over, Lifshitz told JNS that fighting for the return of the remaining 59 hostages is still his life. 

"We are a family. I will not change my life now or go back to what it was before. They need help. Families are in a very hard situation. It is getting harder as more hostages are getting released for the families of those who remain there, they need help and advice," he said. 

"On the other hand, as you have less hostages, they are more known. I just hope we can find the solution to bring everyone out, maybe even all at once," he added. 

Yocheved, who has now fully recovered physically, will continue to be one of the voices calling for the release of the remaining hostages. 

"My grandmother will be 87 in September. She spoke since the first day she got out, and I don't think that she will stop. She said she will stop when the last hostage is back. She is helping the families and will do everything she can," he said.

"We just came out from the shiva, we had so many funerals at the kibbutz, six in total. We will rest for a bit but then immediately continue to help the others to get their loved ones out, it's our obligation, we're one big family," he added. 

With regard to the future of the Gaza Strip, Lifshitz said, "We have a very strong U.S. administration led by President [Donald] Trump, I am sure they will create the pressure to get what they want."

In the meantime, he continued, "We need to solve the hostage issue first, then make sure Hamas will not stay in Gaza."