Yocheved Lifshitz eulogizes her husband Oded, "We were betrayed by those we spent our lives helping"

Five days after he were returned from Gaza, hundreds accompanied 83-year-old Oded Lifshitz to his final resting place on Tuesday. Lifshitz was murdered while in Hamas captivity after being violently abducted from his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz during the October 7 attack.

The funeral procession began at 11:00 AM in Rishon LeZion before continuing to Sa'ad Junction and Nir Oz Junction in the Gaza border communities. Crowds lined the route holding Israeli flags to pay their respects as the procession passed.

In a moving eulogy, his wife Yocheved, who was also kidnapped but released by Hamas after 17 days in captivity, expressed her devastation: "We fought all these years for peace," she said, "and we were struck a harsh blow by the people we helped on the other side." She added: "Oded's death has shattered me, but I have not despaired. I will continue the journey we were on together."

These are her full remarks:

"My dear Oded, it's strange and incomprehensible to me that I'm standing before a crowd eulogizing you. The stage was always yours, and I was by your side. You wrote with great talent, and I was your personal photographer. I want to thank you for a successful life journey of 67 years that we walked together. We built a magnificent family, a next generation to be proud of! I see you continuing to exist in each of our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchild.

In our shared life, we managed to encourage each other in our personal and professional development. We raised children and cacti, traveled the world, and with great pleasure took our grandchildren, each in turn, to experience what we loved so much.

Our abduction and your death shatter me. We fought all these years for social justice and for peace. Unfortunately, we received a severe blow from the people we helped on the other side. I stand here shocked, seeing the number of graves and the terrible destruction of our community that was completely abandoned on October 7th.

Our hostages are still chained, starved, and tortured underground in Gaza for more than 500 days. It is possible, and a moral obligation for the State of Israel, to bring everyone back, now, in one move. I am not in despair, I will continue on our path, and I will continue the struggle to free all the hostages until the very last one.

In the apartment where I now live, a new piano has been waiting for a year. I so looked forward to hearing you play once more in your special way with your great talent. Reality slaps me in the face and the pain is great.

Nurit Galron came to sing her songs for you today that you loved so much. I thank her so much as well. Every night when I go to sleep, you are in my thoughts, and every morning I wake up to a grim reality. I miss you very, very much, my dear.

A few days after I returned from captivity, you appeared in my dream for the only time and said: I'm sending you our song: 'I Won't Ask for Your Hand,' Yossi Banai's rendition of Brassens' song. We now know that you sent me the song in your final moments. If you can hear, you enjoy it too.

Farewell, my dear Oded, we'll meet when the time comes."

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum described Lifshitz as "a pioneering founder of Kibbutz Nir Oz" and "a man of humanity and land, who was kidnapped from his home in the October 7 massacre and murdered in Hamas captivity."

Earlier today, Knesset Constitution Committee Chairman Simcha Rotman announced he would cut short the day's session to allow committee members to attend the funeral. "Izhar, Oded Lifshitz's son, has touched us all with his dignity. Unfortunately, I cannot attend the funeral personally, but I'll ensure that whoever wishes to can participate. We send our condolences from here. Our hearts are with him," Rotman stated.

The President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, spoke at Oded's funeral and asked for forgiveness, as reported by Daphna Liel.

"I stand here before your grave, and as President of the State of Israel, in the name of the State of Israel - I ask you, beloved Oded, and Yocheved and your dear family - for forgiveness. Forgiveness that the State of Israel failed to protect you, your family, and your kibbutz. Forgiveness that you were forced to face these monsters alone. Forgiveness that we couldn't save and bring you and all your friends back - from the clutches of murderers, to here, home, safely. Forgiveness.

This forgiveness I humbly ask also from you - brave and noble members of Kibbutz Nir Oz. As President of the State of Israel, in this painful and heartbreaking moment, I bow my head before you and ask all of you for forgiveness: Forgiveness that on that cursed day we weren't there for you. Forgiveness for the failure and breakdown that caused you, and all of us, to pay such a terrible price."

Lifshitz's body was returned from Gaza last Thursday, alongside the remains of young children Kfir and Ariel Bibas. Israeli authorities confirmed his identification early Thursday evening, followed by confirmation of the children's identities. The remains of their mother, Shiri Bibas, were returned the following day.

The funeral for Shiri, Kfir, and Ariel Bibas is scheduled for tomorrow. At the family's request, the ceremony will be limited to invited guests only. Eulogies from the funeral will be broadcast to the public at 11:30 AM. Their funeral procession will begin in Rishon LeZion at 7:45 AM and continue through several key junctions including Rishonim Interchange, Yavne Interchange Bridge, Ad Halom Bridge, Yad Mordechai Junction, Nir Am Junction, and Sha'ar HaNegev Junction.