Oded Lifshitz

Oded Lifshitz
עודד ליפשיץ
Born1940
NationalityIsraeli
OccupationJournalist
Known forVictim of kidnapping
SpouseYocheved
Children4
RelativesDaniel Lifshitz (grandson)

Oded Lifshitz (Hebrew: עודד ליפשיץ; born 1940) is a retired Israeli journalist who was kidnapped during the Nir Oz massacre as a part of the surprise attack on Israel.

Biography

Lifshitz grew up in Haifa and graduated from the city's Hebrew Reali School in 1957. He participated in the Hashomer Hatzair in his youth, and served in the 50th Battalion of the Parachute Nahal. He was one of the founding members of Kibbutz Nir Oz in 1955,[1] serving as both coordinator and treasurer early on in the village's history. He defended Bedouin residents of Rafah when the IDF attempted to evacuate the Sinai Peninsula and was an on-the-grounds journalist who reported about the 1982 refugee camp massacre in Beirut.[2]

From 1983 to 1995 he worked as a journalist at Al HaMishmar.[3] He prepared articles for the radio program "A Light Hour on Economics", which broadcast on Army Radio.[4]

Lifshitz is married to Yocheved, a former physical education teacher and current photographer. They have four children, as well as grandchildren and a great-grandchild. One of their grandchildren, Daniel Lifshitz, is a former footballer.[5] He and his wife are peace activists who worked for Israeli organization "On the Way to Recovery", which helps aid Palestinian citizens in need of medical care in getting transportation to Israeli hospitals across the border.[6][7][2]

Abduction

On October 7, 2023, during the Nir Oz massacre, Lifshitz and his wife were kidnapped from their home to the Gaza Strip, allegedly by members of Hamas, and their home was set on fire. Their daughter, Sharone, spoke to news outlets stating that her parents were in danger, as they needed medication and that her mother used an oxygen mask when she slept.[6] The National Union of Journalists called for their release.[2] On October 23, his wife was released.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ "המפגש האחרון של מקימי ניר עוז – והפסנתר שהפך לסמל הטבח | חדשות 13". רשת 13 (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2023-12-18.
  2. ^ a b c "NUJ calls for release of hostage Oded Lifshitz". National Union of Journalists. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
  3. ^ Brian Flood, Ashley Carnahan (2023-10-16). "Grandson of Israeli journalist taken by Hamas terrorists speaks out: 'It's like a roller coaster'". Fox News. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
  4. ^ ברנע, נחום (2023-10-12). "חורבן הבית והמדינה שאבדה". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2023-12-18.
  5. ^ "שלומית טנא: גם הוא נחטף כנראה – העיתונאי המבריק עודד ליפשיץ מניר עוז". zman.co.il (in Hebrew). 2023-10-14. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
  6. ^ a b "Taken captive: Oded Lifshitz, drove Gazans to hospitals". Times of Israel. 2023-10-23. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
  7. ^ a b Vasilyeva, Nataliya (2023-10-24). "Israeli hostage Oded Lifshitz 'worked every day to help Gazans'". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2023-12-18.