Israelis Shocked by Return of Hostages in Coffins
Protesters in Kibbutz Nir Oz blame Netanyahu for failing to secure hostages’ release as Hamas claims Israeli airstrikes killed captives.
Watan-On Thursday, dozens of residents from Kibbutz Nir Oz gathered in the Gaza border region, which has become a symbol of Israeli government neglect regarding the dead and captive prisoners following the October 7, 2023, attack. They assembled on the main street to receive the coffins of four Israeli prisoners released by Hamas in exchange for the liberation of 50 Palestinian detainees.
The demonstrators held signs with “broken hearts” and observed a moment of silence with lowered Israeli flags, reflecting the shock and anger within Israeli society. Many expressed their outrage at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had repeatedly vowed to bring back all prisoners alive.
A Blow to the Israeli Government
The return of the four coffins—along with widespread public criticism and anger from hostage families—put Netanyahu’s government in a difficult position. Hamas claimed that these four prisoners were alive but were killed during Israeli airstrikes on their detention sites, accusing Netanyahu’s government of repeatedly obstructing prisoner exchange deals.
The arrival of Red Cross vehicles to collect the bodies near the Martyrs’ Cemetery in Bani Suheila, Khan Younis, surprised Israeli authorities. The incident embarrassed Netanyahu, as the Israeli army had previously announced discovering a tunnel in the same area in January 2025.
Israeli forces had already conducted operations in the area, digging up graves and exhuming dozens of remains to determine if they belonged to Israelis. The military searched the cemetery overnight, engaging in heavy clashes with Palestinian resistance factions. However, it later admitted that the exhumed bodies were Palestinians, not Israelis.
Grief and Fury
Eliya Ashkenazi, a resident of the kibbutz, described the scene of receiving the coffins as heartbreaking and infuriating. Speaking to Ynet, she said:
“There is so much grief and anger. We wanted to see them alive—it was possible.”
She harshly criticized Netanyahu’s government, blaming it for the failure:
“This is a difficult day for Israeli society. It reflects the failure of October 7 and the ongoing government negligence toward the hostages and their families. The indifference must stop—there are still captives suffering in hell.”
Renana Yaakov, whose two sons, Or and Vigel, were freed in November 2023, expressed similar frustration:
“Israelis need to be reminded that people are still trapped in Gaza’s tunnels. We know what those tunnels look like. It has been so long… just thinking that they are still underground robs me of peace.”
She condemned the government’s 500-day delay, saying:
“They should have been brought back alive, but instead, they returned in coffins. It’s devastating, infuriating, and heartbreaking. Yet, in this bitter reality, at least they have eternal rest now.”
A Dark Day for Israel
With the bodies returned to the Bibas and Lifshitz families, Israeli journalist Nir Tsadok described the moment as one of Israel’s darkest days since October 7. Writing in Yedioth Ahronoth, he stated:
“Even with a magnifying glass, it’s impossible to find a shred of good in this day. We are witnessing the worst of the worst.”
He emphasized that the only acceptable outcome was bringing all hostages back alive and noted that 36 of the 73 remaining hostages in Gaza are now believed to be dead.
“The return of these four bodies has opened a deep wound in Israeli society—one that may never fully heal unless the government stops stalling on the exchange deal.”
Netanyahu Under Fire
Military analyst Amir Bar-Shalom of Zman Yisrael was even harsher in his critique of Netanyahu, accusing him of dodging responsibility. He wrote:
“Netanyahu is once again blaming everyone else for his failures. He hides behind so-called ‘top security sources,’ attacks the military, and blames them for failing to negotiate the release of hostages.”
According to Bar-Shalom, the return of prisoners in coffins will leave a lasting scar on Israeli society and politics. He warned that unless Netanyahu allows the remaining exchange deals to proceed, Israel will continue facing more scenes of coffins, fueling political and social turmoil.
In the midst of this, Bar-Shalom posed a crucial question:
“Who does Netanyahu hold responsible for this failure?”
