Israel says remains of 3 hostages returned by Hamas are soldiers killed
in the October 2023 attack
[November 03, 2025]
By JULIA FRANKEL
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel said on Monday the remains of three hostages
returned from Gaza the previous night belong to soldiers who were killed
in the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7, 2023 that triggered the war. The
positive identification marked another step forward for the tenuous,
U.S.-brokered ceasefire.
The military said the men were killed in the attack on southern Israel
and that their bodies were dragged by militants back to Gaza. The office
of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu identified the three as
Capt. Omer Neutra, an American-Israeli, Staff Sgt. Oz Daniel and Col.
Assaf Hamami. A Hamas statement earlier said their remains were found on
Sunday in a tunnel in southern Gaza.
Since the ceasefire took effect on Oct. 10, Palestinian militants have
released the remains of 20 hostages, with eight now remaining in Gaza.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday he had spoken with Neutra's
family, describing their relief and heartbreak. “They were thrilled, in
one sense, but in another sense, obviously, it’s not too great,” Trump
said.
Slow release of bodies
Militants have released one or two bodies every few days. Israel has
urged faster progress, and in certain cases it has said the remains were
not those of any hostage. Hamas has said the work is complicated by
widespread devastation.
Israel in turn has been releasing the remains of 15 Palestinians for
each Israeli hostage returned. Health officials in Gaza have struggled
to identify bodies without access to DNA kits.
Only 75 of the 225 Palestinian bodies returned since the ceasefire began
have been identified, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which has
posted photos of remains in the hope that families will recognize them.
Who were the hostages returned?
The American-Israeli, Neutra, was 21 when he died. In the Oct. 7, 2023
attack, he was abducted with the rest of his tank crew. In December
2024, the military announced Neutra had been killed in the attack that
started the war.
Neutra's parents were a regular presence at protests in the U.S. and
Israel, and addressed the Republican National Convention last year.
The militants took the body of Daniel, 19, from his tank, along with
three others. He is survived by his parents and twin sister.
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Hamami commanded Israel's southern brigade in the Gaza division and
died early on Oct. 7, 2023, in fighting to defend Kibbutz Nirim.
According to Israeli media, Hamami was the first person in the
military to declare that Israel was at war, less than 10 minutes
after the attack began. Hamami and two of his soldiers were killed
and their bodies were taken to Gaza. The other two soldiers’ remains
were retrieved in July 2024. Hamami is survived by his wife and
three children.
Ceasefire status
The exchange of hostage remains for Palestinian bodies has been the
central part of the initial phase of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire.
The 20-point plan includes the formation of an international
stabilization force of Arab and other partners that would work with
Egypt and Jordan on securing Gaza’s borders and ensure the ceasefire
is respected.
Multiple nations have shown interest in taking part in a
peacekeeping force but called for a clear U.N. Security Council
mandate before committing troops.
Other difficult questions include Hamas’ disarmament and the
governance of a postwar Gaza, as well as when and how humanitarian
aid will be increased.
The deadliest and most destructive war ever fought between Israel
and Hamas began with the Hamas-led 2023 attack that killed about
1,200 people and took 251 others hostage.
Israel’s military offensive has killed more than 68,800 Palestinians
in Gaza, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which doesn’t
distinguish between civilians and combatants. The ministry, part of
the Hamas-run government and staffed by medical professionals,
maintains detailed records viewed as generally reliable by
independent experts.
Israel, which has denied accusations by a U.N. commission of inquiry
and others of committing genocide in Gaza, has disputed the
ministry’s figures without providing a contradicting toll.
___
Associated Press writers Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Israel, and
Aamer Madhani in West Palm Beach, Florida, contributed to this
report.
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