Israel confirms Hamas returned bodies of three soldiers held hostage

Israel has confirmed the identities of three soldiers whose bodies were returned by Hamas through the Red Cross in Gaza on Sunday, more than two years after they were abducted during the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led assault on southern Israel.

A statement from the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday said forensic tests confirmed the remains belonged to Colonel Asaf Hamami, 40, Captain Omer Neutra, 21, and Staff Sergeant Oz Daniel, 19.

The remains were handed over to Israeli forces in Gaza before being transferred to the National Centre of Forensic Medicine in Tel Aviv for identification.

In the statement, the Israeli government expressed “deep sorrow” and extended condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers, reaffirming its commitment to ensuring the return of all hostages still held in Gaza.

“The Hamas terrorist organisation is required to uphold its commitments under the ceasefire agreement. Israel will not rest until every hostage, living or dead, is brought home,” the statement read.

The three soldiers were among the 251 people taken hostage during the Hamas assault that left about 1,200 Israelis dead.

According to Israeli authorities, eight deceased hostages, six Israelis and two foreign nationals, remain in Gaza.

Colonel Hamami, commander of the Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) Southern Brigade, was killed while fighting near Kibbutz Nirim and his body was taken to Gaza.

Captain Neutra, an Israeli-American dual national, and Staff Sergeant Daniel were both killed in combat near the Gaza perimeter, with their bodies also seized by Hamas fighters.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum in Israel described the recovery as a “moment of immense grief,” calling for renewed efforts to secure the release or recovery of all hostages.

Under the US-brokered ceasefire agreement that began in October, Hamas was required to return all 20 living and 28 deceased hostages in its custody.

However, Israel has accused Hamas of delaying the process, while Hamas claims it is struggling to retrieve remains from beneath rubble in heavily damaged areas.

Despite the fragile truce, sporadic violence has continued. On Sunday, an Israeli airstrike reportedly killed a man in northern Gaza, which Israel said targeted a “terrorist” who posed an immediate threat to its troops.

Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, launched after the October 2023 attacks, has so far resulted in more than 68,000 deaths, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.