Body of Oded Lifshitz identified | Hostage bodies return to Israel after 503 days | 69 Israeli hostages remain in Gaza
16:19 - Netanyahu: 'We are all united in unbearable grief'
"My brothers and sisters, dear citizens of Israel. On this day we are all united. We are all united in unbearable grief," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video message.
"Every home in Israel bows its head today. We bow our heads for the heavy loss of our four hostages. We all ache with pain that is mixed with rage. We are all enraged at the monsters of Hamas."
"The four coffins of our loved ones oblige us more than ever to promise, to swear, that what happened on October 7 will never happen again. The voice of the blood of our loved ones cries out to us from the ground. It obliges us to come to terms with the vile murderers - and we will come to terms with them."
"The Lord is a God who avenges. O God who avenges, shine forth. Our hearts are broken, but our spirits are not broken. And with this spirit: We will return all our hostages, destroy the murderers, eliminate Hamas, and together - with God's help - we will secure our future," the premier stated.
15:49 - Body of Oded Lifshitz officially identified
Several hours after the identification process began, Lifshitz family said they were informed that the body of Oded Lifshitz has officially been identified.
"We received with great sadness the official and bitter news that the body of our beloved Oded has been identified. 503 agonizing days of uncertainty have come to an end. We had hoped and prayed that our end would be different."
"Now we can mourn the husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather that we have been missing since October 7. Our family reconstruction will begin now and will not end until the last hostage is returned," the family said.
14:19 - IDF troops open fire on suspects approaching them in Gaza Strip
IDF troops acted to distance several suspects who approached the troops and posed a threat to them in the Gaza Strip on Thursday, the military stated.
"Earlier today, IDF troops identified several suspects approaching them in northern Gaza, and warning shots were fired to distance them. As one of the suspects continued advancing toward the troops, posing an immediate threat to them, shots were fired toward him to thwart the threat," the statement read.
"The IDF once again calls on the residents of the Gaza Strip to follow IDF instructions and refrain from approaching troops deployed in the area."
14:03 - Hostage Forum calls for ceremony to honor the released, call for return of remaining hostages
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum called on the nation to gather in Tel Aviv in the evening.
“Tonight at 19:00, following the devastating return of four hostages who were taken alive and returned to us deceased, we will gather at Hostages Square,” the forum stated.
“Together we will carry the pain and memory, and declare in a clear voice: Time has run out for the hostages who remain behind! They must be returned immediately – the living for rehabilitation, and the fallen for proper burial.”
13:35 - Hostage bodies arrive at Forensic Institute for identification
The convoy carrying the hostage bodies has arrived at the Forensic Institute, where the bodies will be identified, Israeli media reported.
13:16 - First footage from IDF ceremony honoring the hostage bodies
The Israeli Government Press Office published the first pictures of the IDF ceremony honoring the hostage bodies upon receiving them from the Red Cross earlier today.
The coffins of the four Israeli deceased hostages in the hands of IDF forces.
— Government Press Office 🇮🇱 (@GPOIsrael) February 20, 2025
📸 IDF Spokesperson’s Unit pic.twitter.com/T7b4cTa1a3
According to Army Radio, the soldiers are part of the Nahal Brigade's 50th Battalion, the former battalion of slain hostage Oded Lifshitz.
12:52 - Thousands of Israelis line the streets to pay last respects to hostage bodies
Thousands of Israelis are lining the streets to pay their respects, as a police convoy is carrying the hostage bodies to Tel Aviv.
Many are waving Israeli flags and salute the convoy as it passes by, while others stand in silence, sing Israel's anthem Hatikva, or are waving yellow or orange flags, signifying solidarity with the hostages and the Bibas children, respectively.
11:53 - IDF convoy carrying hostage bodies crosses into Israel on way to Forensic Institute
The IDF convoy carrying the hostage bodies has crossed into Israeli territory, the IDF and Shin Bet said in a joint statement.
"The four coffins of the deceased hostages, accompanied by an IDF and Shin Bet unit, crossed the border into the State of Israel a short time ago and are on their way to the National Forensic Medicine Institute, where the identification process will take place," according to the statement.
"IDF representatives are accompanying the families during these difficult hours."
The bodies of four slain Israeli hostages, handed over by Hamas this morning, have crossed the border from the Gaza Strip back into Israel, 503 days since they were abducted by Hamas-led terrorists.
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) February 20, 2025
The bodies are being taken by a convoy of IDF vehicles, escorted by the Israel… pic.twitter.com/2lubxMlzVx
11:33 - Ceremony honoring hostage bodies begins, IDF rabbi recites Psalm 83
Israeli media reported that the military ceremony honoring the hostage bodies has begun.
IDF Chief Rabbi Karim is reciting Psalm 83.
The coffins, which contained Hamas propaganda, were draped with Israeli flags. The IDF said it is filming the ceremony for the families of the slain, who will decide later whether to release the footage to the public.
11:15 - IDF: Coffins underwent security scans before transfer to Forensic Institute
IDF troops checked the coffins of the slain hostages for explosives before beginning the transfer to the Forensic Institute, where the bodies will be identified.
"The four coffins were handed over to an IDF unit. The coffins underwent security scanning, and afterward, the unit checked that all locks on the coffins could be opened, to avoid any delays at the Forensic Medicine Institute. All the coffins are accessible for opening," the IDF stated.
10:48 - Report: IDF checking coffins for bombs; Hamas locked coffins and provided keys that won't open
IDF combat engineers are checking the coffins of the dead hostages for booby traps, Channel 12 News reported.
However, Kan News reports that Hamas locked the coffins and provided false keys, according to two Israeli sources involved in the process.
10:33 - President Herzog: 'A moment of suffering and pain, I ask for forgiveness'
"This is a moment of suffering and pain," President Isaac Herzog stated.
"The heart of an entire nation is shattered into pieces. On behalf of the State of Israel, I bow my head and ask for forgiveness. Forgiveness for not fulfilling our duty. Forgiveness for not protecting you on that cursed day. Forgiveness for not bringing you home safely."
"May their memory be a blessing," Herzog added.
10:29 - Netanyahu: Bodies were received, 'our hearts are with the families'
"Israel has received, through the Red Cross, the coffins of four deceased hostages," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed.
"The coffins were handed over to an IDF and Shin Bet team within the Gaza Strip, from where they will be transferred to Israel to the National Center of Forensic Medicine of the Ministry of Health. After the identification process is completed, an official notification will be given to the families."
"The families of the hostages have been updated, and in this difficult time, our hearts are with them. The public is requested to respect the families' privacy and refrain from spreading rumors and unverified information," the PMO stated.
10:21 - IDF conducts short ceremony honoring slain hostages before transfer to Israel
The IDF said it would conduct a short ceremony upon receiving the bodies of the four slain hostages.
According to Army Radio, the ceremony will be led by IDF Chief Rabbi Brig.-Gen. Rabbi Eyal Karim.
Karim will recite the Kaddish and Yizkor prayers and recite a psalm in the presence of the fighters of an elite IDF unit, who will secure the transfer of the bodies to Israel.
10:17 - Coffins are transferred to IDF troops in Gaza - 69 hostages remain in captivity
The caskets with the four hostage bodies have been transferred to IDF troops in the Gaza Strip, Israeli media reported.
Hamas currently holds 69 hostages in captivity in the Gaza Strip, 36 of whom have been declared dead by the IDF.
10:00 - IDF spokesman: 'Hamas is parading bodies, this is is who we're fighting'
"Hamas is parading deceased Israeli hostages," IDF International Spokesman Lt.-Col. Nadav Shoshani wrote on X.
"When you see these images, remember: this is who we’re fighting against, a genocidal terrorist organization who celebrates the death of innocent civilians and continues to hold them hostage as leverage for over 500 days. Don’t let Hamas’ propaganda manipulate you."
Hamas is parading deceased Israeli hostages.
— LTC Nadav Shoshani (@LTC_Shoshani) February 20, 2025
When you see these images, remember: this is who we’re fighting against, a genocidal terrorist organization who celebrates the death of innocent civilians and continues to hold them hostage as leverage for over 500 days.
Don’t let… pic.twitter.com/YPAGLmWaRP
09:56 - Red Cross takes hostage bodies to IDF post in Gaza
The handover ceremony is complete, and the Red Cross convoy is making its way toward an IDF post, the military confirmed.
"According to information provided by the Red Cross, four coffins of dead hostages have been handed over to it and are making their way to IDF and Shin Bet forces in the Gaza Strip," the IDF stated.
According to estimates by Israeli media, the convoy will reach the IDF post in around 20 minutes.
09:51 - Report: Red Cross refused to cooperate on some aspects of ceremony, Hamas threatened to stop
According to a report by Channel 12's military correspondent Nir Dvori, the Red Cross refused some aspects of Hamas' handover ceremony, and at one point, Hamas threatened to stop it.
The issue was reportedly resolved, and the ceremony is continuing with the handover of the hostage bodies to the Red Cross.
09:41 - Hostage bodies are handed over to Red Cross
Red Cross representatives began loading the four coffins into their vehicles in the square in Khan Younis.
09:30 – Red Cross signs ‘release documents’
A representative of the Red Cross signed Hamas’ cynical “release documents” on the stage.
09:23 – Hamas displays coffins on stage
Hamas put four coffins on the stage, alongside two bombs carrying the message, “They were killed by USA bombs.”
Most Israeli media outlets chose not to carry the live broadcast of the ceremony.
09:22 – Red Cross convoy arrives at release point
Several Red Cross vehicles arrived at the square in Khan Younis ahead of the release ceremony.
The square is surrounded by dozens of masked and armed terrorists, and thousands of onlookers, including many children.
09:12 – Red Cross convoy on the way to Khan Younis
A convoy of the Red Cross is heading to the handover point in Khan Younis, Israeli media reported.
09:00 – Hamas prepares square and stage for “handover ceremony” of hostage bodies
Despite calls to treat the bodies of the killed Israeli hostages with respect, Hamas cleared a square and erected a stage in the southern town of Khan Younis in preparation for a “handover ceremony,” similar to the cynical release ceremonies it conducted over the past weeks.
Messages and posters include depictions of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a vampire and accusations that he is responsible for the death of Shiri, Ariel and Kfir Bibas, and Oded Lifshitz, whose bodies are expected to be released today.
The crowd of observers includes several terrorists who were released from Israeli prisons over the past weeks.
The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
