Israel recently observed a somber national day of remembrance, honoring the victims of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on its southern territories and all those lost in the subsequent conflict. This solemn occasion unfolded almost a week after a fragile cease-fire took effect in Gaza.
A poignant state ceremony, marking two years since the 2023 attack according to the Jewish calendar, was held at the national cemetery, Mount Herzl, in Jerusalem. Hundreds gathered, many clad in Israeli military uniforms, to pay their respects.
Following the cease-fire agreement, Hamas released the remaining 20 living hostages who had been held in Gaza. In a reciprocal move, Israel freed nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners from its facilities. This group included 250 individuals convicted of terrorism offenses or violent acts against Israelis, alongside approximately 1,700 others who were detained in Gaza during the war and held without formal charges in Israel.
On Thursday, Israel announced the identification of two additional bodies returned by Hamas a day prior. These individuals were confirmed to have been killed in the October 2023 attack and subsequently taken into Gaza. The recent truce agreement stipulated the immediate handover of all remaining bodies in Gaza, though both sides acknowledged that some could be difficult to locate and may take more time to retrieve because of the extensive destruction throughout the enclave.
To date, the Palestinian militant group has returned at least nine bodies identified by Israel, with 19 more still believed to be in Gaza, according to a spokesman for the Israeli prime minister’s office.
Conversely, Israel has repatriated at least 90 bodies of Palestinians to Gaza, as confirmed by statements by the International Red Cross. The Israeli military has partially withdrawn its forces to a pre-agreed line within Gaza, allowing some Gazans to begin the difficult process of returning to their former homes, or what remains of them.
The Oct. 7 attack tragically claimed the lives of approximately 1,200 people, including Israeli civilians and security personnel, with about 250 individuals taken hostage. The ensuing war in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of at least 67,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants. Israel’s National Security Council reports that over 460 Israelis have been killed since the war began.