This week, Israel began the heartbreaking task of burying two of its citizens whose remains were recently returned from Gaza. While many Israelis are rejoicing over the homecoming of living hostages, the country is also grappling with the profound grief of losing those who did not survive.
A memorial service for Guy Ilouz, one of the recovered individuals, is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon in central Israel. The Hostage Families Forum, dedicated to advocating for those held in Gaza, confirmed that Mr. Ilouz was tragically abducted during the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack that sparked the current conflict.
Daniel Peretz, a 22-year-old whose tank crew bravely fought Hamas militants during the October 7 assault, will also be laid to rest on Wednesday evening. Although Mr. Peretz was officially declared deceased by the Israeli military in March 2024 and his family had already held a funeral at that time, this new burial marks the return of his physical remains.
Since Monday, Hamas forces in Gaza have transferred the remains of eight individuals. Of these, Israel has positively identified six as Israeli citizens, one as a Nepali national, and the identity of the eighth person remains unclear.
Hamas officials have stated that the extensive damage and widespread destruction across the Gaza Strip, after two years of intense conflict, are making it incredibly challenging to quickly locate all the bodies held there. In response, Israeli authorities have hinted at potential retaliatory measures against Hamas, such as restricting humanitarian aid shipments into Gaza, if more remains are not promptly handed over.
Guy Ilouz, 26, was captured by Hamas after escaping the Nova music festival in southern Israel, having sustained injuries. The Israeli military reported that he tragically died from his wounds while in Gaza, having been deprived of necessary medical attention.
Maya Regev, herself released from captivity in Gaza in November 2023, shared a poignant memory of meeting Mr. Ilouz in a Gaza hospital. She recalled their conversations on social media, writing, “You suffered a week alone until I arrived. We spoke about the most simple and pure things in the darkest and most horrific place that man has known.”