Hamas has returned the bodies of three Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers to Israel, including that of American-Israeli serviceman Omer Neutra, who was killed during the group’s October 7, 2023, assault on southern Israel.
The Israeli military confirmed early Monday that the remains were handed over overnight and identified by forensic teams. Neutra’s body, along with those of two other fallen soldiers, was among dozens taken into Gaza following the deadly cross-border attack that triggered the ongoing war.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which represents relatives of hostages held in Gaza, said the return of Neutra’s body ended nearly two years of painful uncertainty.
“Alongside the grief and the understanding that their hearts will never be whole, Omer’s return provides some measure of comfort to a family that has lived with agonizing doubt for over two years,” the forum said in a statement. “We will not rest until the last hostage is brought home.”
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue efforts to recover the remaining hostages. “We will not compromise on this and will spare no effort until we return all of the hostages, every last one of them,” he said in a post on X following the handover.
According to Israeli officials, the bodies of eight hostages are still believed to be inside Gaza.
The exchange came amid renewed Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip despite a ceasefire that took effect last month. The Israel Defense Forces said it resumed adherence to the truce after “limited operations” over the past week.
However, Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) reported Sunday that more than 200 people have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire began, citing figures from the Hamas-run Health Ministry.
Neutra, who grew up in Long Island, New York, was serving in the IDF’s armored corps when he was captured and killed during the Oct. 7 attack, which left around 1,200 people dead in Israel, according to government figures. More than 250 others were taken hostage.
The United States has repeatedly urged both Israel and Hamas to uphold recent ceasefire terms and accelerate hostage returns.
As of Monday morning, the IDF said identification processes were complete and families had been notified.