Opinion and Commentary By Donna A. Westfall – February 20, 2025

In a macabre scene in Gaza, hundreds of Palestinians watched as Hamas released the coffins of four bodies to the Red Cross. The father was released alive three weeks ago. His wife, Shiri, and their two sons, their red headed sons that were 9 months old and 4 years old when kidnapped, were kidnapped by Hamas-led terrorists, but kept separately from the father. Along with them, the body of 85 year old Oded Lifschitz was released. Here’s the irony, he was a journalist and peace activist. He would drive sick Palestinians to the hospital in Israel for treatment. Today, those bodies were released.

All of them were kidnapped from their homes in Kibbutz Nir Or by the savages called Hamas on October 7, 2023. Captured Hamas were promised payment of $10,000 and an apartment for raping, burning, killing and kidnapping men, women and children which was disclosed during interrogations by Shin Bet, part of the Israeli Intelligence Community .

With their faces and heads covered and in either black garb or camouflage uniforms, the Hamas terrorists claim the Bibas family was killed by an Israeli airstrike in November 2023. Per Ben Shapiro, “However, they were only in Gaza because Hamas kidnapped them. Any tragedy that happened after that is solely on Hamas.” Not willing to take one iota of responsibility for their actions. Why do they cling to the dead bodies?

Oded Lifschitz, 85 years old, killed in captivity by Hamas

Hundreds of somber Israeli’s lined the streets hoisting Israeli flags outside of a forensic institute in Tel Aviv as the vans carrying the four coffins arrived.

As part of the ceasefire, more than 600 Palestinian prisoners and detainees are being returned.

I certainly hope that Pres. Trump’s plan to relocate the Palestinians out of Gaza works because there can never be peace with a two state solution. I hope that the murderous, evil Hamas’ days are soon coming to an end. I hope that Iran stops arming the enemies of Israel.

Six more Israeli hostages are scheduled to come out alive this Saturday along with four more bodies. Two of the hostages being released are men that have been held for 10 years, not kidnapped on October 7th.

All of this sadness and grief may come to an end one of these days. We can only hope. Just think what would have made a world of difference if the millions or billions of dollars that were spent on Hamas and their tunnels and armaments were instead spent on food, jobs and businesses for the people of Gaza.