Israel has received the remains believed to belong to one of the last deceased hostages held in Gaza. This transfer marks the fourth such incident within a week and was facilitated by Hamas through the Red Cross. If the remains are confirmed as those of a hostage, it would leave five deceased hostages still in Gaza.
The transfer of deceased hostages from Hamas to Israel is a key component of the initial phase of the US-brokered ceasefire. On October 29, 2023, Israel received the bodies of Omer Neutra, an Israeli-American, along with Asaf Hamami and Oz Daniel. Just two days later, Itay Chen, the final Israeli-American dual citizen whose remains were held in Gaza, was also transferred. On November 1, 2023, Hamas delivered the remains of Joshua Loitu Mollel, a Tanzanian agricultural student who was abducted from Kibbutz Nir on October 7, 2023.
At Neutra’s funeral in Israel, Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command, expressed deep condolences, stating, “Omer made the ultimate sacrifice we hope no soldier ever has to make, but many have made it nonetheless, in service to a higher cause.” His words resonate with the ongoing grief felt by the families of hostages.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum continues to organize rallies in Tel Aviv and other cities across Israel, urging for the return of the remaining deceased hostages. Eitan Horn, who was recently freed after spending 738 days in captivity, spoke at a gathering in Hostages Square on November 4, 2023. He shared his emotional struggle, saying, “I cannot begin my journey of healing and recovery as long as I know there are families who are not with me on this journey. We have no future without the return of all the hostages.”
In a related development, Israel has reportedly gained new information regarding the remains of Lt. Hadar Goldin, who was killed during the last days of the 2014 conflict between Israel and Hamas. According to two Israeli sources, his remains are believed to be located in Rafah, southern Gaza, an area suspected to be sheltering up to 200 Hamas militants hiding in underground tunnels.
As the situation evolves, the ongoing exchanges of remains highlight the complex and tragic circumstances surrounding hostages in the region, underscoring the profound impact on families and communities affected by this conflict.
