On Tuesday, Israel announced that the Red Cross was on its way to collect four bodies from Hamas, bringing the total number of hostages’ bodies returned under the recent ceasefire agreement to eight. The families of these victims have been waiting for this moment of closure, although the pain is far from over for those still waiting for their loved ones to come home.
Earlier that day, Israel revealed the names of four hostages whose bodies were returned the previous day: Guy Illouz, Bipin Joshi, Daniel Peretz, and Yossi Sharabi. While this news has offered some relief to the families of the deceased, the Israeli public is growing increasingly frustrated. There are still 20 more hostages whose bodies remain in Gaza, and pressure is mounting on Hamas to return them. In response, Israel has made it clear that it will slow the flow of aid to Gaza until those bodies are released.
The deal that was supposed to lead to the return of all hostages – both living and dead – by Monday has fallen short. Hamas had warned that due to the widespread destruction in Gaza, they would be unable to locate all the bodies in time. Before Monday’s returns, it was confirmed that 28 hostages’ bodies remained in Gaza, including the body of a soldier who was captured 14 years ago.
Tamir Nimrodi, an Israeli soldier and German dual national, was not among the 20 living hostages released. While his death has not been officially confirmed, his family and the Israeli government are still waiting for answers.
Here’s a closer look at some of the victims whose bodies have been returned and those who remain in Gaza:
Guy Illouz, 26
Guy was at the Nova music festival when Hamas attacked on October 7, 2023. He was severely injured, and while he was taken captive, he later died from his wounds. His father, Michel Illouz, shared that he was heartbroken but also relieved that some families of the living hostages would now have their loved ones back.
Bipin Joshi
Bipin, a student from Nepal, was studying at Kibbutz Alumim when the attack occurred. His family hadn’t heard from him since his capture, but in October 2023, they released footage believed to have been filmed while he was still in captivity.
Daniel Peretz, 22
A captain in the Israeli army, Daniel was killed during the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.
Yossi Sharabi, 53
Yossi was taken from Kibbutz Beeri, where more than 130 people lost their lives. His wife and daughters survived the attack, but tragically, Yossi was killed during an Israeli airstrike targeting the building where he and two other hostages were being held.
Ongoing Search for Justice
For the families of those whose bodies have not been returned, the search for closure continues. People like Tamir Adar, Muhammad al-Atrash, and others are still being mourned as their families wait for their remains to be returned. Some hostages were killed during the initial attack on October 7, while others died later while in captivity.
The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza has added layers of complexity to the issue. Israel has made it clear that it expects the release of all hostages before it will allow further aid to flow into Gaza, adding immense pressure to an already volatile situation.
Despite the challenges and setbacks, the families of the hostages continue to hold on to hope. They want to give their loved ones the dignity of a proper burial and the closure that so many deserve. As one family member put it, “Only then can we begin to heal.”
