Israel announced on Thursday that militants have handed over the body of one of the remaining four hostages from the October 7, 2023, Gaza attack that initiated the conflict. The body was identified as Meny Godard, who was taken from Kibbutz Be’eri in southern Israel, where his wife, Ayelet, was killed. Israeli officials returned the bodies of 15 Palestinians to Gaza on Friday, according to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis.
The armed factions of Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad reported that Godard’s body was found in southern Gaza. Since the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas began on October 10, 25 hostages’ remains have been repatriated to Israel, with three more still in Gaza awaiting recovery.
Godard, a former professional soccer player who later served in the Israeli military during the 1973 Mideast War, had various roles at Kibbutz Be’eri, including working at the printing press. As part of the ceasefire agreement, Israel has been returning 15 Palestinian bodies in exchange for each hostage’s remains. The Gaza Health Ministry stated that out of 330 received bodies, only 95 have been formally identified.
Hamas mentioned challenges in retrieving bodies due to extensive damage in Gaza, while Israel has urged for a swift return and disputed certain remains’ identities. The ceasefire terms required Hamas to release 20 live hostages to Israel on October 13, with subsequent dead exchanges being a crucial element of the U.S.-brokered deal. Despite mutual accusations of violating the agreement, the exchanges have proceeded.
Israeli authorities accused Hamas of providing incomplete remains and staging body discoveries, while Hamas criticized Israel for targeting civilians and impeding aid flow into Gaza. Although casualties decreased after the ceasefire, Gaza reported ongoing deaths from strikes, with Israel acknowledging military losses from militant attacks.
Health officials in Gaza noted challenges in identifying remains due to a lack of DNA testing kits. With only three hostages remaining, both sides are nearing the conclusion of the ceasefire’s first phase. Subsequent steps in the 20-point plan involve establishing an international stabilization force, setting up a technocratic Palestinian government, and disarming Hamas.
The fragile agreement aims to de-escalate the conflict triggered by a Hamas-led assault on southern Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages, as per Israeli data. Gaza’s Health Ministry reported over 69,100 Palestinian fatalities from Israel’s extensive military campaign.
