Post by : Rameen Ariff

Israel’s military confirmed on Wednesday that out of the four bodies received from Hamas on Tuesday, three have been positively identified as former hostages, while one body does not match any of the hostages held by the Palestinian group. Israeli authorities said Hamas is obligated to make all efforts to return the bodies of the remaining hostages.

The families of the three confirmed victims expressed deep sorrow and relief after forensic teams verified the identities. Among those returned was Ouriel Baruch, a 35-year-old Jerusalem resident who was kidnapped during the Nova Festival on October 7, 2023. His family shared an emotional statement, saying, “It is with immense sadness and pain that we announce the return of the body of our beloved Ouriel Baruch from the Gaza Strip, after two long years of prayer, hope, and faith.”

Two other hostages confirmed dead include 53-year-old taxi driver Eitan Levy and 18-year-old soldier Tamir Nimrodi. Levy was reportedly killed after dropping off a friend at Kibbutz Beeri during the initial Hamas attack, while Nimrodi was captured at a military base along the Gaza border. Families of both victims confirmed their deaths following forensic verification.

Israeli authorities emphasized the ongoing need for Hamas to cooperate fully and return the remaining hostages. The identification of these bodies comes amid ongoing tensions in the region and international efforts to negotiate the release of remaining captives.

The news has brought mixed emotions across Israel, combining grief for the deceased and cautious hope that the remaining hostages may eventually be freed.

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