Israel receives body of hostage from Hamas, Islamic Jihad; three still remain in Gaza

JERUSALEM - Israel has received the body of hostage Meny Godard from Palestinian militants in Gaza via the Red Cross, said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office on Nov 13.

Mr Godard lived on a kibbutz near Gaza and was killed during the Hamas raid on Israel on Oct 7, 2023.
His body was taken to Gaza.

He was 73 at the time of his death, which was officially declared on Dec 8, 2023.

Earlier, the armed wings of militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad said they would hand over the body of a hostage at 8pm local time, though Israel said it had not received any official notification of a planned transfer.

After being transferred to Israel through the Red Cross, the body was sent to forensic experts, who, less than three hours later, identified it as Mr Godard’s.

The remains of three hostages are still being held in Gaza.

“The government and the entire establishment for the missing and the captives of the State of Israel are determined, committed and working tirelessly to return all of our fallen hostages for proper burial in their country,” Mr Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.

Islamic Jihad, which is allied with Hamas and also seized hostages during the Oct 7 attack that precipitated the Gaza war, said the body was recovered in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis.

Under an October ceasefire deal, Hamas released all 20 surviving hostages
still held in Gaza in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and wartime detainees held by Israel.

The agreement also provided for the return of the remains of 28 hostages in exchange for the remains of 360 militants. REUTERS