On Tuesday, the Israeli military publicly announced the identification of two out of four bodies of former captives recovered from Gaza. This somber news cast a shadow over Monday’s joyful nationwide celebrations that marked the release of the final 20 living hostages held in the territory.
The identified individuals were Guy Illouz and Bipin Joshi. According to the cease-fire agreement, Hamas was expected to hand over the remains of all 28 hostages believed to have died in captivity by Monday.
However, the agreement also recognized the immense challenge of retrieving these bodies, particularly given the extensive destruction in Gaza. What was once a densely populated urban area has been transformed by two years of Israeli strikes into vast expanses of rubble.
The accord established a framework for locating and returning additional remains should Hamas fail to do so by the deadline. This plan involves forming a joint task force, including representatives from the United States and other mediating nations, to facilitate information sharing and the recovery efforts for the remaining bodies. This information comes from three Israeli officials who requested anonymity to discuss the sensitive details.
Both Israeli officials and several families of the hostages have voiced strong criticism regarding Hamas’s failure to return a greater number of deceased captives.
Defense Minister Israel Katz accused Hamas of not honoring its commitments. Despite the accusation, he indicated that Israel would not immediately retaliate militarily, suggesting a continued adherence to the cease-fire.
On social media, he emphasized, “The urgent task we are all committed to now is ensuring the return of all the bodies of the hostages home. Any deliberate delay or refusal will be considered a blatant violation of the agreement and will be met accordingly.”
Gal Hirsch, who coordinates efforts for hostages and missing persons under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, reassured families of unrecovered hostages that the government remains dedicated to repatriating their loved ones’ remains and will continue to pressure Hamas.
He affirmed, “The mission is not yet complete. We are absolutely determined and fully committed — we will not stop until all the fallen hostages are located and brought home.”
However, the success of these efforts hinges on Hamas demonstrating good faith and a genuine commitment to returning the bodies they can, rather than employing delays, according to two Israeli officials.
On Monday, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, a leading advocacy group, called for an immediate halt to the agreement’s implementation until all deceased individuals are returned.
The group declared that the retrieval of merely four bodies constituted a “violation of the agreement” and demanded a “very serious response from the government and the mediators.”
They stressed, “An agreement must be honored by both sides. If Hamas does not fulfill their part, Israel should not fulfill its part either.”
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) announced Tuesday that it is providing support for the dignified handling of the deceased, including supplying body bags, refrigerated trucks, and deploying personnel to assist Israeli authorities.
In a formal statement, the ICRC urged Israel, Hamas, and the international mediator to ensure the agreement is “faithfully applied.”
“Families grieving the loss of their loved ones have already endured unimaginable pain,” the group emphasized. “All parties must ensure that the return of human remains is done under dignified conditions, and uphold dignity and humanity.”
Israeli officials believe Hamas knows the whereabouts of many, though not all, of the remaining bodies. One official explained that Hamas would need to conduct its own investigation, including consulting with other militant factions in Gaza, clearing extensive rubble, and inspecting collapsed tunnels to locate some of these individuals.
The military’s announcement stated that Israel’s National Center for Forensic Medicine, in collaboration with the Israel Police and the Military Rabbinate, successfully identified the remains of Mr. Illouz, Mr. Joshi, and two other individuals.
The identities of the remaining two former hostages were withheld by the military, pending notification to their respective families.
Mr. Illouz, abducted from the Nova music festival, tragically died in captivity at 26, reportedly due to insufficient medical care for injuries sustained during the October 7, 2023 attacks, according to the military.
Mr. Joshi, a 23-year-old Nepali citizen, was abducted from a shelter in Kibbutz Alumim and killed in captivity during the initial months of the war, the military confirmed.