Since the U.S.-brokered ceasefire in Gaza commenced on October 10, Palestinian militants have returned the remains of 23 individuals previously held. The repatriation of the remains of five additional hostages, as stipulated by the truce agreement, is experiencing delays.
Hamas states that it has been unable to access all remains, attributing this to their burial under debris resulting from Israel's two-year military operations in Gaza. Israel, in response, has accused the militants of procrastination and has indicated the potential resumption of military actions or the cessation of humanitarian aid if the remaining remains are not returned.
Exchange Details
Recently, Hamas returned the remains of Lior Rudaeff, a 61-year-old Israeli man killed during the October 7, 2023, attack that initiated the current conflict. In exchange, Israel has released 285 Palestinian bodies to Gaza. Specific identities of these individuals have not been disclosed by Israel, leaving their status as either casualties from the October 7 attack, Palestinian detainees who died in Israeli custody, or bodies retrieved from Gaza by Israeli forces during the conflict, unconfirmed. Gaza's health authorities report difficulties in identifying these bodies due to a lack of DNA kits, having identified 84 thus far.
Profiles of Remaining Hostages
The remains of the following individuals are yet to be returned:
- Meny Godard, 73: A former professional soccer player and Israeli military veteran. He and his wife, Ayelet, were killed on October 7, with Ayelet informing their children of Meny's death before her own. They are survived by four children and six grandchildren.
- Hadar Goldin, 23: An Israeli soldier whose remains have been held in Gaza since August 1, 2014, following a ceasefire in that year's conflict. Evidence from the tunnel where his body was taken indicated his death during the attack. He is survived by his parents, three siblings (including a twin), and a fiancée.
- Ran Gvili, 24: A member of an elite police unit. He sustained a broken shoulder prior to October 7 but responded to assist officers. After aiding individuals at the Nova music festival, he was killed in another location, and his body was taken to Gaza. His death was confirmed four months later. He is survived by his parents and a sister.
- Dror Or, 52: A dairy farm manager at Kibbutz Be'eri. On October 7, he and his wife, Yonat, were killed when their home was set ablaze while they were hiding. Their two children, Noam (17) and Alma (13), were abducted and subsequently released during the November 2023 ceasefire.
- Sudthisak Rinthalak: An agricultural worker from Thailand employed at Kibbutz Be'eri since 2017. He was among 31 Thai workers abducted on October 7. Most Thai hostages were released in previous ceasefires. The Thai Foreign Ministry has reported 46 Thai fatalities during the war, in addition to the remaining hostages.