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Axios

World

Hamas still hasn't returned these hostages' bodies from Gaza

Hamas Gaza the Times of Israel Israel IDF the Hostages and Missing Families Forum Nir Oz (Geopolitical Entity) kidnapped the American Jewish Committee

Families across Israel — and beyond — have waited for more than 700 days for the return of their loved ones whose remains are still held in Gaza.

The big picture: Under the ceasefire agreement, Hamas is required to hand over the bodies of more than two dozen deceased hostages. However, they have claimed they don't know where all the remains are, setting the stage for the first test of the fragile peace deal, Axios' Barak Ravid reports.

To Israel, the return of the remains is paramount to the agreement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had approved slashing the number of aid trucks entering Gaza if more bodies were not returned, but after Hamas returned some of the bodies on Tuesday, Israel decided against it.
More bodies are expected to be returned Wednesday. A multinational task force will share information on the possible locations of the deceased hostages and conduct search operations.

Driving the news: Hamas returned four bodies Monday: Guy Iluz, who was abducted from the Nova music festival; Bipin Joshi, a Nepalese student; Yossi Sharabi, who was described by his widow as a "wonderful partner and a perfect father"; and Capt. Daniel Peretz, a South African-Israeli dual national.

Hamas then handed over the remains of four individuals on Tuesday. The Israel Defense Forces identified them as Tamir Nimrodi, an 18-year-old IDF soldier; Uriel Baruch, a father of two; and Eitan Levi, remembered as "a pampering father and a warm and loving man."
The fourth body was not one of the hostages, the IDF said.

Per the American Jewish Committee (AJC) and the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, the hostages still unaccounted for include:

Itay Chen

Chen, 19, was an Israeli-American citizen and a solider who was killed on Oct. 7, 2023.

"We live in a state of suspended mourning − unable to grieve, unable to heal, unable to bury our children in the land they loved and defended," his mother wrote in a Tuesday opinion piece.
His father remembers him as the "life of the party" and the "connector" of the family, per the American Jewish Committee.

Eliyahu Margalit

Margalit was 75 when he was killed by Hamas on Oct. 7 in the kibbutz Nir Oz, the Times of Israel reported.

The cattle breeder, reportedly nicknamed "Churchill," is survived by his wife and children, one of whom was also taken hostage but was previously released.

Sahar Baruch

Baruch, 24, was taken from the kibbutz Be'eri after returning from an "around-the-world trip," per the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.

The IDF said in January 2024 that he was killed during a rescue attempt, adding it was unclear if Hamas or Israeli fire caused his death.

Joshua Luito Mollel

Mollel, a 21-year-old student from Tanzania, was killed after being taken hostage from the kibbutz Nahal Oz, per the BBC.

He was working in Israel as an agricultural intern.

Tal Haimi

Haimi, 41, was killed in kibbutz Nir Yitzhak on Oct. 7. The forum described him as a third-generation descendant of the kibbutz's founders and a "highly devoted" community member.

His wife gave birth to their youngest son after he was killed, per the Times of Israel.
"More than half of my life we were together. We spent more time together than apart," she told the Washington Post of her husband.

Arie Zalmanowicz

Zalmanowicz, 85, a grandfather who was described as a "man of the earth," was abducted from Nir Oz, the kibbutz he helped to found, and died in captivity.

A rescued hostage said that he was with Zalmanowicz when he died under a lack of medical care and neglect.
Zalmanowicz talked about his family "every chance he got," the rescued hostage recalled.

Ran Gvili

Gvili, a 24-year-old police officer, was killed during the Oct. 7 massacre in the community of Alumim, according to the Times of Israel.

Dror Or

Or, 48, was originally presumed to be taken hostage from Be'eri but was killed on Oct. 7.

His wife was also murdered in an attack on their home, and his two daughters were kidnapped and later released.
He was a cheesemaker and a culinary school graduate who built a loving home with his family, according to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.

Tamir Adar

Adar, 38, fought to secure Nir Oz while his wife and young children hid in the safe room, according to the forum. His community later confirmed he was killed defending the kibbutz.

His mother has condemned the Israeli leadership's approach to securing the release of hostages' bodies, the Times of Israel reported.

Ronen Engel

Engel, 54, was kidnapped with his wife and their daughters from Nir Oz, where the family lived and he managed the irrigation system, according to the forum. He died in captivity, while his widow and children were released.

He was a photographer and volunteer with Magen David Adom, Israel's national emergency medical service.
"As a father and husband he had a great sense of humor and a kind heart," according to the forum.

Inbar Hayman

Hayman, 27, is the last female hostage held by Hamas.

She was taken during the Nova music festival, and her parents long for their "child to have a place of rest."

Asaf Hamami

Hamani, 41, was a colonel and the commander of the Gaza Division's Southern Brigade, per the Times of Israel.

He was killed in action and his body was taken to Gaza.

Lior Rudaeff

Rudaeff, a 61-year-old grandfather and father who was born in Argentina, died during the Oct. 7 attack.

He lived in Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak, where he was known as a "perpetual volunteer," according to the hostages forum.

Muhammad Al-Atarash

Al-Atarash, 39, the father of 13, was a tracker in the Gaza Division's Northern Brigade, according to the Times of Israel.

He was killed on Oct. 7.

Meny Godard

Godard, 73, and his wife were both killed on Oct. 7 in kibbutz Be'eri.

His family said in a statement shared by the hostages forum that what "characterized him most of all was his kind heart — generous, big-hearted, and truly boundless in his giving."

Omer Neutra

Neutra, 21, was an American-Israeli citizen killed during the Oct. 7 attack.

Neutra was a tank commander in the Israeli military who was raised in Long Island.
"He was deeply committed to both the people and land of Israel and immigrated to Israel out of that same deep commitment," his family said in a statement last year.