The son of an Israeli hostage whose body remains in Gaza has spoken out, expressing the heavy realization that the struggle is far from over and that a prolonged battle lies ahead. Rotem Cooper, whose father Amiram is among the 24 hostages whose bodies have not been returned to Israel, conveyed the families’ need to find the strength to continue their fight.
Mr. Cooper appealed to international mediators, including US President Donald Trump, Qatar, and Egypt, to pressure Hamas into adhering to the agreement and facilitating the return of all remaining hostages and their bodies. The initial agreement stipulated the return of all hostages by Monday, with a reciprocal release of Palestinian prisoners. While 20 living hostages were released, the failure to return the bodies of deceased hostages has deeply disappointed their families.
He described the situation as a “very big disappointment,” emphasizing that Hamas appears to be playing games and not fulfilling its commitments. Mr. Cooper’s parents were taken hostage during the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, from Kibbutz Nir Oz. His mother was later released, but his father was killed while in captivity.
The families had held onto hope for the return of their loved ones’ bodies, but the limited number returned fell far short of expectations. Mr. Cooper stated that the return of his father’s body would provide much-needed closure and allow him to find some peace. Ruby Chen, whose son Itay’s body also remains in Gaza, shared similar sentiments, expressing joy for the released hostages but deep disappointment for those whose loved ones’ remains have not been returned.
Mr. Chen urged the Israeli government and international mediators to continue applying pressure on Hamas to honor the agreement and ensure the return of all remaining hostages. The Israeli military confirmed the identification of the four deceased hostages whose bodies were returned, with some believed to have died from injuries sustained during the initial attack or in captivity.
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