Israel-Hamas ceasefire: Who are the 15 hostages whose bodies still remain in Gaza | Explained

This combination of images provided by Hostage's Family Forum shows some of the deceased that were held in Gaza when the latest ceasefire started. (Image Source: AP)

As part of the ceasefire agreement in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, Palestinian militants have returned the bodies of 13 hostages held in Gaza over the past two years. However, the return of the remains of the remaining 15 hostages has stalled. Hamas claims that some bodies are still buried under rubble left by Israel’s two-year offensive in Gaza. Israel has accused Hamas of delaying the process and warned it may resume military operations or restrict humanitarian aid if the bodies are not returned.

The following profiles highlight the 15 hostages whose remains have not yet been repatriated:

Tamir Adar, 38

A farmer and third-generation member of Kibbutz Nir Oz, Adar was part of the community’s emergency first responder team. During the attack, he left his family in a safe room to defend the kibbutz. His last message to his wife read, “You don’t open for anyone, even if it’s me asking you to open.” He is survived by his wife and two children.

Sahar Baruch, 25

A resident of Kibbutz Be’eri, Sahar loved science, Dungeons & Dragons, and fantasy literature. He was about to begin an electrical engineering degree and had previously served as a military mechanic. He was abducted alongside his brother, who was killed. Sahar was confirmed dead during an attempted rescue mission three months into captivity. He is survived by his parents and two siblings.

Itay Chen, 19

An Israeli-American, Itay was abducted with two other members of his tank battalion. He enjoyed basketball and studying human biology. He was killed in the October 7 attack. He is survived by his parents, two brothers, and a dog named Gucci.

Amiram Cooper, 84

One of the founders of Kibbutz Nir Oz, Cooper was an economist and poet. Abducted along with his wife, who was released after 17 days, he was killed in captivity. He is survived by his wife, three children, and nine grandchildren.

Oz Daniel, 19

An Israeli soldier and talented guitarist, Daniel was killed on October 7. He is survived by his parents and twin sister.

Meny Godard, 73

A former professional soccer player and veteran of the 1973 Mideast War, Godard and his wife were killed when militants set fire to their home. They are survived by four children and six grandchildren.

Hadar Goldin, 23

Hadar was killed in 2014 during a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. Evidence found in the tunnel where his body was taken confirmed his death. He is survived by his parents and three siblings, including a twin.

Ran Gvili, 24

A member of an elite police unit, Gvili was recovering from a shoulder injury when he rushed to assist others on October 7. He is survived by his parents and a sister.

Assaf Hamami, 41

Colonel and commander of Israel’s Southern Brigade, Hamami was one of the first to declare Israel at war on October 7. He and two soldiers were killed, with the other soldiers’ remains retrieved earlier. He is survived by his wife and three children.

Joshua Loitu Mollel, 21

A Tanzanian agricultural student at Kibbutz Nahal Oz, Mollel had been in Israel for only 19 days. He is survived by two parents and four siblings in Tanzania.

Omer Neutra, 21

Israeli-American volunteer in the army, Neutra enjoyed multiple sports and captained school teams. He was killed in the October 7 attack.

Dror Or, 52

A father of three and expert cheesemaker at Kibbutz Be’eri, Or and his wife were killed after militants set fire to their home. Two of their children were abducted and released during the 2023 ceasefire.

Sudthisak Rinthalak

A Thai agricultural worker at Kibbutz Be’eri, Rinthalak had been in Israel since 2017. He is one of three Thai hostages whose bodies remain in Gaza.

Lior Rudaeff, 61

An ambulance volunteer at Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak, Rudaeff was killed while defending the community. He is survived by four children and three grandchildren.

Arie Zalmanovich, 85

A long-time resident of Kibbutz Nir Oz, Zalmanovich specialized in wheat cultivation. He died about five weeks into captivity and is survived by two sons and five grandchildren.

The stalled return of these 15 hostages highlights the ongoing tension and mistrust between Israel and Hamas, even amid a broader truce. Families continue to await closure while Israel pressures Hamas to comply with the ceasefire agreement.