DAY 508 IN CAPTIVITY • DAY 38 OF THE CEASEFIRE: Oded Lifshitz Laid to Rest, Lapid’s Post-War Gaza Proposal, More IDF Troops to West Bank

Tel Aviv Diary February 25, 2025

This promises to be another long and difficult week. Today, the funeral of Oded Lifshitz was held at Kibbutz Nir Oz. Although I did not know Oded or his wife Yocheved, I did know many others like them—strong, resilient men and women who dedicated their lives to settling parts of the Negev.

Oded was a lifelong member of Hashomer Hatzair, the left-of-center youth movement instrumental in settling many of Israel’s most demanding areas. Despite the challenges, these same “settlers” never stopped hoping that one day, peaceful coexistence with our neighbors would be possible.

Since 1967, the members of the Israeli communities surrounding the Gaza border have consistently been at the forefront of efforts to assist the people of Gaza. And yet, on the day it mattered most, those very people appeared to act with particular cruelty towards those who had previously helped them.

Today, thousands lined the roads leading to Kibbutz Nir Oz, as friends and family gathered to bid farewell to Oded. The ceremony began with remarks from Oded’s wife, Yocheved, or “Yochke”, who said:

I want to thank you for the 67 years we spent together, building a beautiful family with a legacy to be proud of. Our abduction and your death have shaken me. We fought for social justice and peace all these years, and unfortunately, we were struck a heavy blow by the very people we helped on the other side. I'm stunned by the number of graves and the terrible destruction of our community.

Oded’s son, Yizhar said:

Dad, I'm sorry I wasn't there for you on October 7th, when you tried to protect mom on your own, when you died from torture in Gaza, just like your friends in the kibbutz.

We live in a complicated reality, everyone needs to think about what to do, and the fact that you can't tell us how to behave among us, within our people, within our land, makes it harder to understand,

President Herzog shared the following:

I stand here, at the edge of your grave, facing the soil of your land, and as the President of the State of Israel, on behalf of the State of Israel – I ask you, beloved Oded, from Yocheved and from your dear family – for forgiveness.

Forgiveness that the State of Israel did not protect you, your family, and your kibbutz.

Forgiveness that in the face of human monsters, you were forced to stand alone.

Forgiveness that we did not manage to rescue you and bring you and all your friends back – from the jaws of the murderers, here, home, safely. Forgiveness.

Ambassadors from Germany, Poland, and the UK all spoke at the funeral. German Ambassador to Israel Steffen Seibert paid tribute to Lifshitz, saying,

This is heartbreaking—Oded Lifshitz, a man of peace and reconciliation with the Palestinians, a German citizen, was kidnapped and murdered by Hamas. As he returns home, my heart is with his family. May the memory of this gentle man and his life be a blessing.

All ten of Oded’s grandchildren and his one great-grandkid spoke at the ceremony. One granddaughter read a letter Oded shared with her at her bat mitzvah, in which he expressed, “We, both the old and the young, have failed to create the state that we had envisioned for you.”

Tomorrow, Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas will be laid to rest. The family has invited the public to demonstrate their support by lining the funeral route with people holding Israeli flags. While attendance at the funeral itself will be limited to family and close friends, the eulogies will be broadcasted, allowing those around the world who have closely followed the tragic story of the red-headed children and their lioness mother to share in the grief.

Even without viewing the ceremony, the mere sight of the three coffins will be devastating enough. Moreover, we expect the return of four additional hostage bodies by Thursday or earlier. We knew that the joy and relief of welcoming back living hostages would be mixed with the sorrow and despair of receiving those who did not survive. I am not sure we fully anticipated the extent of the pain this process would inflict on us collectively.

MOSSAD CHIEF UNVEILS DETAILS ON EXPLODING BEEPERS AT INSS CONFERENCE

This afternoon, Ronen Barr, the head of the Mossad, addressed the annual INSS conference. There, Barr disclosed additional details about the exploding beepers. He revealed that the initial batch of 500 beepers was delivered just weeks before the start of the war. By the time the project was activated, the number of beepers in possession of Hezbollah and their supporters had multiplied tenfold. This explanation goes a long way to clarify the question of why we did not deploy this operation earlier.

YAIR LAPID’S PLAN FOR POST-WAR GAZA

Currently in Washington, opposition leader and head of Yesh Atid, Yair Lapid, has unveiled his proposal for the future of Gaza following the war. It’s clearly original and different. Lapid’s plan is distinct from and complementary to President Trump’s proposal for “the day after the war” in Gaza. Lapid's strategy involves Egypt assuming responsibility for Gaza for a period of 15 years, while the international community agrees to cancel $155 billion in external debt. This innovative approach marks a significant departure from previous proposals.

Details of Lapid’s proposed plan include:

1. The ceasefire will be completed only after all hostages are released, with Israel remaining within the Gaza perimeter.

2. Egypt will take control of the Gaza Strip, including internal security and civil administration.

3. This control will be defined as “custodianship” with the goal of transferring Gaza to the Palestinian Authority after a process of reform and de-radicalization, with measurable benchmarks.

4. The reconstruction process will begin under Egyptian supervision, with Saudi Arabia and the Abraham Accords countries participating in a Negev Forum-style model.

5. The U.S. will invest in Gaza in coordination with Egypt, following the framework of Trump’s plan.

6. Egypt will allow any Gazan resident who wishes to leave and has a place to go to do so in an orderly manner.

7. Egypt will work to prevent arms smuggling into Gaza, destroy tunnels, and eliminate remaining terrorist infrastructure.

8. A joint Egyptian-Israeli-American security mechanism will be established to address immediate threats.

While there are several potential issues with Lapid’s plan, it is undeniably original and its merits are a refreshing departure from all of the approaches we have been seeing. Tonight, Egypt rejected the plan.

IRAN

This morning, there were various notifications that Iran had heightened the alert status of their aerial defenses due to concerns over a possible imminent Israeli attack. This worry may have been triggered by Netanyahu's cancellation of his testimony today, citing an urgent security issue. While there's a chance Iran’s concern is valid, it still seems improbable.

WEST BANK

With the southern and northern borders remaining relatively quiet at the moment, most of the Army’s effort has been focused on counterterrorism activities in the West Bank. Since January 1st, the Shin Bet (Security Services) and the IDF have thwarted 256 cases of attempted terrorism. The recent bus bombings last Thursday night have prompted the deployment of additional troops into the West Bank. The Army Spokesman released the following statement regarding its current operations in the West Bank:

In recent days, fighters from the Nahal Brigade joined an anti-terror operation in northern Samaria, operating under Shin Bet (ISA) guidance in the villages of Qabatiya, Silat al-Harithiya, and Al-Yamun in the Menasha Brigade’s sector, following approximately 16 months of intense combat in the Gaza Strip.

During the operation, forces searched dozens of terrorist infrastructures, arrested 15 terrorists, located weapons, and destroyed explosive devices, including a powerful belly-charge IED

.

Security forces continue their counterterrorism efforts across Judea and Samaria to ensure the safety of Israeli citizens.

HOSTAGE NEGOTIATION UPDATE

At present, the status of the ongoing hostage agreement remains uncertain. We have yet to release the Palestinian prisoners who were scheduled for return on Saturday night. It’s not clear if the government is making a calculated decision, or is simply willing to take a risk since it does not want to proceed. Additionally, President Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff, has delayed his planned visit to Israel scheduled for tomorrow— This is not a very good sign.

BUSINESS

Quantum Machines has secured $170 million in Series-C funding led by PSG Equity, marking Israel's largest quantum computing investment to date. The company, founded in 2018 by physicists Itamar Sivan, Yonatan Cohen, and Nissim Ofek, has now raised $280 million total.

Rather than building quantum computers, Quantum Machines develops the classical hardware and software systems that control them. They serve approximately 300 customers, with over 50% now coming from corporate and industrial sectors rather than academia.

We believe within three to four years we'll see the first real applications of quantum computers, said CTO Yonatan Cohen. But very large, error-free quantum computers will take many more years.

The funding round included Red Dot Capital Partners, Intel Capital, and existing investors TLV Partners, Battery Ventures, Meron Capital, and Avigdor Willenz.

Quantum Machines faces competition from Keysight and Zurich Instruments, while some large manufacturers like IBM develop their own control systems in-house. The company also faces technological risks if photon-based quantum computing, which requires minimal external control systems, becomes dominant.

The 170-employee company operates globally with headquarters in Israel and offices in Denmark, Germany, Japan, and the United States. Quantum Machines recently launched the Israeli Quantum Computing Center at Tel Aviv University after winning a grant from the Israel Innovation Authority.

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TRAVEL ACROSS ISRAEL

Kibbutz Shomrat & Kibbutz Lochamei Haghetaot

Next, we’ll make a quick stop at Kibbutz Shomrat. The kibbutz is affiliated with the Hashomer Hatzair Kibbutz Movement. It is located in the western Galilee and falls under the jurisdiction of the Mateh Asher Regional Council.

Kibbutz Shomrat was founded in May 1948 by members of Hashomer Hatzair from Romania, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia. Shomrat was established on portions of the lands from the Arab villages of al-Sumayriyya and al-Manshiyya. The residents of these villages left during the War of Independence, following Operation Ben Ami, and were subsequently not allowed to return.

Until 1953, the kibbutz was called “HaYotzrim” (The Creators). Over the years, Kibbutz Shomrat absorbed youth groups and Hashomer Hatzair movement members from Argentina, Uruguay, Israel, the United States, and Canada. During the 2000s, Kibbutz Shomrat underwent privatization and adopted a differential wage system, transitioning into a “renewed kibbutz” model.

An article from 1980 reveals that over the preceding years, members of Kibbutz Shomrat discovered three inscribed stones in their fields, each marked with engraved letters. Subsequent analysis suggested that these stones were utilized as field boundary markers during the Crusader period.

Additionally, the Acre aqueduct, which was built between 1814 and 1815 by Sulayman Pasha, crosses the kibbutz from north to south.

The fields of Kibbutz Shomrat were originally an agricultural farm established in 1906, owned by Martin and Elfriede Stol, members of the Templar movement. The Stols were expelled from the country by the British Mandate authorities. Although the Kibbutz features a guest house, there is not that much to see at the Kibbutz (my apologies to one of our readers who lives there).

Today, Kibbutz Shomrat is home to 800 residents.

After the brief visit at Shomrat, we continue up the road to Kibbutz Lohamei HaGeta’ot. Also located in the western Galilee region of northern Israel, Lohamei HaGeta’ot is situated between the cities of Acre (Akko) and Nahariya. Established in 1949 by Holocaust survivors, including fighters from the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, Jewish partisans, and other survivors. The kibbutz was founded on the site of an abandoned British Army base and the depopulated Palestinian village of al-Sumayriyya. Its name, meaning “Fighters of the Ghetto,” honors those who resisted the Nazis during World War II.

A significant landmark within the kibbutz is the Ghetto Fighters’ House Museum (Beit Lohamei HaGeta’ot), established in 1949. It offers extensive exhibits detailing Jewish life before, during, and after the Holocaust, with a particular focus on the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and other acts of resistance. The museum also houses a comprehensive archive and a library, serving as both a memorial and a research center.

Economically, Kibbutz Lochamei HaGeta’ot has diversified its ventures. In the mid-1980s, it acquired the Tivol vegetarian food products factory, which has since become a significant source of revenue. The kibbutz also maintains agricultural enterprises, including a large dairy, and offers tourist accommodations through a bed and breakfast. In recent years, the kibbutz has undergone privatization processes.

Archaeologically, near the kibbutz lie the well-preserved remains of an aqueduct constructed in the late 18th century by Jezzar Pasha, the Ottoman ruler of Acre. This structure was built to channel water to the city from nearby sources. The aqueduct was reconstructed in 1814 by his successor, Suleiman Pasha, and remained operational until 1948.

The Ghetto Fighters' House, also known as Itzhak Katzenelson Holocaust and Jewish Resistance Heritage Museum, Documentation and Study Center, is a Holocaust museum in Kibbutz Lohamei HaGetaot. It was established in 1949 by Holocaust survivors.

Some notable features about the Ghetto Fighters' House:

• Was the first museum in the world dedicated to commemorating the Holocaust and focusing on Jewish resistance during WWII.

• Maintains both permanent and temporary exhibitions.

• Also houses the Yad Layeled Children's Memorial Museum (more below), which commemorates children who perished during the Holocaust.

• Has an archive with documents, photographs, artifacts, and art collections.

The wonderfully thoughtful Yad Layeled Children's Memorial Museum uses a range of interactive exhibits, personal testimonies, and educational programs to convey the stories of these children in a manner that is accessible and engaging for young visitors. Designed to educate about the Holocaust through the eyes of children, the museum not only serves as a poignant tribute but also as a tool for teaching tolerance and human rights. Its immersive exhibits are intended to foster empathy and understanding among generations too young to comprehend the full historical scope of the events it recounts, ensuring that the lessons of the past are carried forward into the future.