Israel has confirmed the identities of three bodies delivered by Hamas as part of a ceasefire agreement, intensifying its demands for the retrieval of all remaining hostage remains amid threats to humanitarian aid in Gaza.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office on Wednesday identified the deceased as Eitan Levy, 53, soldier Tamir Nimrodi, 20, and Uriel Baruch, 35. The identifications followed a forensic process involving the National Center for Forensic Medicine, the Israel Police, and the Chief Rabbinate of the Israel Defense Forces.
The bodies were among four transferred by Hamas to the Red Cross on Tuesday night before being handed over to the Israeli military. Israel suspects the fourth body does not belong to a hostage, though the Prime Minister’s Office has not officially confirmed this.
The Israeli government reiterated its commitment to ensuring all deceased hostages receive a dignified burial in their home country.
Approximately 20 other hostage bodies reportedly remain in the Palestinian enclave, held by various militant groups. This ongoing issue has significantly complicated the existing ceasefire agreement.
Israel is currently considering restricting humanitarian aid access to Gaza through the Rafah crossing, located on the border with Egypt, until all bodies are returned by Hamas.
Eitan Levy, a father from Bat Yam, was declared dead by the Israeli army after being missing for more than 40 days following the October 7, 2023, attacks. He was abducted while assisting a friend in Kibbutz Beeri, one of the communities most severely targeted by Hamas.
Soldier Tamir Nimrodi was kidnapped by Palestinian militants from a military base near Gaza, where he served as an education non-commissioned officer. According to a statement from the Hostages Families Forum, Nimrodi died in an Israeli bombing while in captivity.
Uriel Baruch was missing for 172 days after the October 7 attacks. His family reported that he was killed by militants on that day, and his body was subsequently held in Gaza.