Latest news with #British-linked
The Guardian
03-03-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Father of hostage still in Gaza accuses Netanyahu of ‘stalling' Hamas deal
The father of an Israeli hostage has said Benjamin Netanyahu is 'stalling' the deal with Hamas that could lead to the return of his son from Gaza. Speaking at the Israeli embassy in central London, Yehuda Cohen, father of 20-year-old Israeli hostage Nimrod Cohen, said: 'There is a deal on the table. 'The only thing is Netanyahu is stalling it and I'm here to say loud and clear: we need pressure on our government, on Netanyahu in particular, to go for the second part of the deal.' Cohen added: 'Everything stands on our prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who refuses to get to a permanent ceasefire. 'He's not doing it because of ideological reasons. He's doing it for personal reasons. He wants to stay in power.' In the first phase of the ceasefire deal, 33 Israelis were freed – including the bodies of eight people who were killed in captivity or during the 7 October 2023 attack when Hamas killed about 1,200 people and took more than 250 hostages. Israel released nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees during the first phase of the ceasefire in exchange for the hostages. The Israeli government is reportedly planning to ratchet up its blockade on Gaza as part of what it has called a 'hell plan' to pressure Hamas into further hostage releases without having to withdraw troops. Hamas has rejected the proposal, saying it represents a violation of the original truce agreement in January. Cohen said he has heard news that his son, who was captured on 7 October, is alive from other hostages who were released in the first phase. 'He's there, he's alive, he's well and the only thing left is to get him released,' he said. British-linked families told reporters of the horror of waiting for their relatives to be returned. Ayelet Kaufman, the sister of Hadar Goldin, has been waiting more than 10 years for the return of her brother's body. Goldin, an Israeli soldier, was kidnapped and killed in 2014, his sister told citizen Ditza Or, mother of hostage Avinatan Or, said: 'Before 7 October, I was Ditza Or, with a full life, a profession. 'But since 7 October, I'm only the mother of Avinatan – 24 /7 I advocate for him.' Avinatan Or was kidnapped along with his girlfriend, Noa Argamani, at the Supernova music festival in southern Israel on 7 October. His girlfriend has since been returned, but was separated from Or. She added: 'It's important to bring the world to its peace and harmony, but first, bring all our children home, and then go on.' Israel said on Sunday that a new US proposal calls for extending the ceasefire's first phase through Ramadan and the Jewish Passover holiday, which ends on 20 April. Under that proposal, Hamas would release half the hostages on the first day and the rest when an agreement is reached on a permanent ceasefire, Netanyahu said.
The Independent
25-02-2025
- The Independent
Hundreds attend funeral of UK-linked hostage Oded Lifshitz, 84
Huge crowds of mourners have paid their final respects at the funeral in Israel of 84-year-old peace activist and British-linked hostage Oded Lifshitz. Wellwishers came out in force to accompany the path of his casket on Tuesday from Rishon Lezion to Nir Oz with Israeli flags. The Israeli former journalist was taken from his hometown Kibbutz Nir Oz when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages. His remains were returned on Thursday from the Gaza Strip, more than 500 days later. Throughout that time his British daughter – Dr Sharone Lifschitz, 53, of Walthamstow, east London – has campaigned for all the hostages to be freed. She is said to be 'crushed' by all that has happened, according to Steve Brisley, 48, of Bridgend, Wales, who counted on her support and friendship as he waited for his captured brother-in-law Eli Sharabi to be freed. In his eulogy, Israel President Isaac Herzog told the mourners, including some who were former hostages, that every captive was a 'humanitarian case' and must be freed. He pledged: 'I will not rest and I will not be silent until they all return home. Every single one of them. 'The living to their families and homes, and the fallen to be laid to rest in dignity.' Mr Lifshitz, who helped found kibbutz Nir Oz, was hailed as 'a peace activist, man of books and spirit, a humanitarian connected to both people and land' in the public notice which had urged mourners to attend. The great-grandfather and grandfather-of-11 spent his retirement as a journalist driving Palestinian patients from the border checkpoint to receive medical treatment at Israeli hospitals. Dr Lifschitz held back tears as she locked arms in support of her mother Yocheved while the 86-year-old read a tribute at the funeral. Her mother was also taken hostage but was released two weeks later. Mr Brisley described Mr Lifshitz as 'a beacon of light that we all can aspire to be' adding that 'if there were more Odeds in the world there would be less chance of events like October 7 happening'. Watching the funeral online, he told the PA news agency: 'Trying to live our lives in the way he did, in a very selfless and peaceful way, would probably be the best tribute we can give to him. 'It is an incredibly sad day. 'There was always a glimmer of hope that he might come out but with every day passing day, as weeks went, we were all realistic that his chances of coming out alive decreased significantly. 'I know that Sharone and the family are absolutely crushed by this but I hope they will be able to start to process the grief.' Mr Brisley's Bristol-born sister Lianne and teenage daughters Noiya and Yahel were killed by militants while hiding in their safe room on the October 7 2023. A frail-looking Mr Sharabi, who was taken captive from Kibbutz Beeri by the militants during the Hamas attack, was freed on February 8. Mr Brisley added: 'I have spent a lot of time with Sharone over the last 16 months and she has been an incredible advocate for all hostages. 'She always spoke fondly of Oded. It sounds like he had the most incredible life – as a peace activist, journalist and the trips to provide humanitarian support for Gazans. 'During his captivity Sharone always said she missed talking about life, politics and the world with him. 'More than anything Sharone spoke of what a warm and loving father he was and that is obviously what she is going to miss the most.' In his free time, Mr Lifshitz played the piano and tended the cacti in his garden. Many mourners wore yellow cactus pins to remember him. In an online tribute Adam Wagner, the lawyer for Dr Lifschitz and other British hostage families, had said in an online tribute: 'We don't know when or how Oded died, but we do know how he lived.' He said the 'strength, determination, humanity and dignity' that Dr Lifschitz has shown is a tribute to how she was raised and 'also the values which surely are the only model for this terrible conflict ultimately being resolved'. Mr Lifshitz was born in Haifa in 1940, which was under British Mandate rule. His parents arrived there from Poland in 1933. Mr Lifshitz's body and those of three others were handed over to the Red Cross on February 20. Shiri Bibas and her children, Ariel and Kfir, whose bodies were also returned, are set to be buried in a private ceremony on Wednesday. Hamas has claimed Mr Lifshitz and the Bibas family were killed in Israeli air strikes. But Israel said tests found the two boys and Mr Lifshitz were killed by their captors.
The Independent
20-02-2025
- The Independent
Family of UK-linked hostage confirm ‘bitter news' of Hamas returning his body
The family of a UK-linked Hamas hostage have confirmed the 'bitter news' that his body is among those to have been returned to Israel. The body of 84-year-old Oded Lifshitz was identified as one of the four returned by Hamas on Thursday, as part of an ongoing prisoner exchange in the current ceasefire agreement. Mr Lifshitz's family, including his British-based daughter, Dr Sharone Lifschitz, had received no information on his whereabouts since the Hamas October 7 attack, when he was taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz. A statement from the family, released by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum Headquarters, said: 'We received with deep sorrow the official and bitter news confirming the identification of our beloved Oded's body. 'Five hundred and three agonising days of uncertainty have come to an end. We had hoped and prayed so much for a different outcome. 'Now we can mourn the husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather who has been missing from us since October 7. 'Our family's healing process will begin now and will not end until the last hostage is returned.' Mr Lifshitz was a retired Israeli journalist, a great-grandfather and a grandfather of 11. His wife, Yocheved, 86, was also taken hostage but was released two weeks later. In a statement shared earlier on Thursday, Adam Wagner, the lawyer for Dr Lifschitz, 53, of Walthamstow, east London, and other British hostage families, 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.' Stella Creasy, the MP for Walthamstow where Dr Lifschitz lives said that she was 'heartbroken'. In a post on Bluesky on Thursday morning, she described the news as a 'devastating blow'. 'We had hoped for a miracle – to be able to welcome Oded Lifshitz back to his family and to join them in Walthamstow,' she said. 'A man who dedicated his life to fighting for peace between Israel and Palestine, driving ambulances across the border to help.' She added: 'The news today and pictures (are) a devastating blow. We stand with out neighbour, Sharone Lifschitz, in her grief and in sharing the stories of his work.' The statement from Mr Wagner described him as someone whose 'life has always been dedicated to peace'. Fellow British-linked hostage Eli Sharabi was among those freed earlier this month, but his relieved family said he looked 'incredibly frail' and 'the spark was gone from his eyes'.
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Real chance' hostages being freed by Hamas could be hurt or killed, lawyers say
There is a 'real chance' that hostages being released by Hamas could be injured or killed just before they reach safety, lawyers for the families of British-linked hostages have warned. Hamas freed eight hostages on Thursday as part of the ongoing ceasefire deal with Israel, with some captives being escorted through a crowd of thousands and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later condemning 'shocking scenes'. Adam Rose and Adam Wagner, who represent families of hostages with British links, highlighted safety concerns in a statement on Thursday afternoon and called on the UK Government to ensure 'violent scenes are not repeated'. STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE BY LAWYERS FOR THE BRITISH HOSTAGE FAMILIES 30 January 2025 We and our clients are delighted that eight more hostages have been released today, bringing the total to 14. We are extremely concerned, however, at the manner in which Hamas and… — Adam Wagner (@AdamWagner1) January 30, 2025 They said: 'We are extremely concerned, however, at the manner in which Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad have facilitated the releases to date. 'Today, there appeared to be a very real risk to the hostages' safety as they were paraded by armed terrorists through what can only be described as a mob, being screamed at and jostled by the encroaching crowd. 'It is also clear that the ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross) transport vehicles, and the ICRC staff, are being put at significant risk by the grotesque methods being used by the terrorists to parade the hostages.' Their clients Eli Sharabi, Oded Lifshitz and Avinatan Or are among hostages yet to be released. 'If these scenes are allowed to continue, there is a real chance that a hostage is seriously injured or killed – moments before they are to reach safety,' Mr Rose and Mr Wagner said. 'As well as being an individual tragedy, this could put the entire deal at risk. 'We therefore call on the governments of Israel, the United States, Qatar and the United Kingdom urgently to do everything possible, including issuing public statements and using private diplomatic channels, to ensure that these violent scenes are not repeated for Saturday's release and beyond.' The fragile ceasefire in the 15-month Israel-Hamas war has lasted more than a week with thousands of Gazans now returning to where they once lived in the north of the territory. Israel released 110 Palestinian prisoners on Thursday. A Foreign Office spokesperson said: 'We welcome the release of eight hostages today, they have been through an unthinkable ordeal after almost 15 months in captivity. 'Ensuring the safe release of hostages is paramount. 'This ceasefire marks a critical moment for the Middle East and the importance of implementing this deal in full cannot be overstated.'
The Independent
30-01-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
‘Real chance' hostages being freed by Hamas could be hurt or killed, lawyers say
There is a 'real chance' that hostages being released by Hamas could be injured or killed just before they reach safety, lawyers for the families of British-linked hostages have warned. Hamas freed eight hostages on Thursday as part of the ongoing ceasefire deal with Israel, with some captives being escorted through a crowd of thousands and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later condemning 'shocking scenes'. Adam Rose and Adam Wagner, who represent families of hostages with British links, highlighted safety concerns in a statement on Thursday afternoon and called on the UK Government to ensure 'violent scenes are not repeated'. They said: 'We are extremely concerned, however, at the manner in which Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad have facilitated the releases to date. 'Today, there appeared to be a very real risk to the hostages' safety as they were paraded by armed terrorists through what can only be described as a mob, being screamed at and jostled by the encroaching crowd. 'It is also clear that the ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross) transport vehicles, and the ICRC staff, are being put at significant risk by the grotesque methods being used by the terrorists to parade the hostages.' Their clients Eli Sharabi, Oded Lifshitz and Avinatan Or are among hostages yet to be released. We therefore call on the governments of Israel, the United States, Qatar and the United Kingdom urgently to do everything possible, including issuing public statements and using private diplomatic channels, to ensure that these violent scenes are not repeated for Saturday's release and beyond Adam Wagner and Adam Rose 'If these scenes are allowed to continue, there is a real chance that a hostage is seriously injured or killed – moments before they are to reach safety,' Mr Rose and Mr Wagner said. 'As well as being an individual tragedy, this could put the entire deal at risk. 'We therefore call on the governments of Israel, the United States, Qatar and the United Kingdom urgently to do everything possible, including issuing public statements and using private diplomatic channels, to ensure that these violent scenes are not repeated for Saturday's release and beyond.' The fragile ceasefire in the 15-month Israel-Hamas war has lasted more than a week with thousands of Gazans now returning to where they once lived in the north of the territory. Israel released 110 Palestinian prisoners on Thursday.
