JERUSALEM — Israel announced Thursday that militants in Gaza have turned over the remains of one of the last four hostages taken during the October 7, 2023, attack that ignited the war.
The victim was identified as Meny Godard, who was abducted from Kibbutz Be’eri in southern Israel. His wife, Ayelet, was killed during the assault. According to statements from the armed wings of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Godard’s body was recovered in southern Gaza.
Israel says that since the ceasefire began on October 10, the remains of 25 hostages have been returned. Three more remain unaccounted for in Gaza.
Kibbutz Be’eri described Godard as a former professional soccer player who later served in the Israeli military during the 1973 Mideast War. He went on to hold various positions in the kibbutz, including work at its printing press.
As part of the ceasefire agreement, Israel has been releasing 15 Palestinian bodies for each hostage’s remains. The Gaza Health Ministry said it has so far received 315 remains through the exchanges.
Hamas says recovering bodies in Gaza has become increasingly difficult due to widespread destruction. Israel has pressed for faster returns and in several cases, has disputed whether remains provided were those of hostages.
The ceasefire deal also led to the release of 20 living hostages on October 13. The handover of remains forms the core of the first phase of the United States brokered agreement, which requires Hamas to return all hostage bodies as quickly as possible. Both sides have accused each other of violating other parts of the deal, even as the exchanges continue.
Israeli officials allege that Hamas has delivered partial remains in some instances and staged body discoveries in others. Hamas accuses Israel of firing on civilians and restricting humanitarian aid. Although casualties have decreased under the ceasefire, Gaza officials continue to report deaths from strikes, while Israel says soldiers have been killed in militant attacks.
Health authorities in Gaza say the shortage of DNA testing kits has hampered the identification of remains sent by Israel.
With three hostages still to be recovered, the parties are close to completing the first phase of the 20-point plan. The next steps call for establishing an international stabilization force, forming a technocratic Palestinian government, and disarming Hamas.
The agreement is intended to end the war triggered by the Hamas-led attack that killed about 1,200 people in southern Israel and resulted in 251 hostages. Israel’s ensuing offensive has killed more than 69,100 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run government but maintains detailed casualty records considered generally reliable by independent experts.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
