UN Ceremony Pays Tribute to the Bibas Family and Oded Lifshitz

The ceremony, attended by dozens of international ambassadors, commemorated the lives of Kfir, Ariel, and Shiri Bibas, as well as Oded Lifshitz, who were taken from their homes and held captive by Hamas.

Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, delivered a powerful speech during the event. He criticized the United Nations for its failure to condemn Hamas for its actions, especially its kidnapping of innocent civilians. "When Hamas kidnapped a mother and her two children, when Hamas took Israeli babies as prizes, when Hamas violated the agreement in the most brutal way—the UN did not condemn or speak about Hamas and continues to remain silent to this very day," Danon stated. He continued, “The UN passed countless resolutions on Israel and held countless emergency sessions. But when a baby, a toddler, and their mother were taken from their home, when these terrorists massacred babies and entire families, the international community had nothing to say.”

Danon made it clear that Israel would not be silent and vowed to ensure that the victims’ memories would not be forgotten. "We will continue to say their names – Kfir, Ariel, Shiri, and Oded. We will make Hamas pay. We won’t stop until everyone comes home," he asserted.

The Ambassador of Argentina to the UN also spoke at the ceremony, echoing Danon’s sentiments. He emphasized that the attack on October 7 was not just another act of violence in a long-standing conflict. “It was the manifestation of silence," he said. "In the face of such horror, we cannot afford silence and complicity. Israel has the right to defend itself." Reflecting on his visit to the affected communities in Israel, the Ambassador described a juxtaposition of life and death. “On the one hand, I saw the purest form of life. On the other, the most brutal form of brutality,” he said.

The ceremony concluded with attendees standing for a moment of silence to honor the victims. They were also invited to sign a condolence book in memory of those lost. The event served as a reminder to the international community of the ongoing fight for justice for the victims of Hamas’ violence, ensuring their memory will be preserved.