The Latest Hostage Remains Returned from Gaza Confirmed
Israel announced on Saturday that the remains returned from Gaza the previous night belong to an Israeli man who died during the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which sparked the war. This identification represents progress in the fragile ceasefire brokered by the United States.
Identification of the Deceased
The returned remains were confirmed as those of Lior Rudaeff, according to a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum provided background on Rudaeff, stating he was born in Argentina and grew up in Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak, a farming community in southern Israel.
Personal and Community Contributions
- Rudaeff volunteered as an ambulance driver for over 40 years.
- He was an active member of the community’s emergency response team.
The forum noted that he was killed during the Hamas-led attack and that his body was taken to Gaza.
Ceasefire-related Hostage Returns
Since the ceasefire began on October 10, Palestinian militants have returned the remains of 23 hostages, including Rudaeff’s body. Five hostages remain in Gaza.
According to the agreement, Israel has returned the remains of 15 Palestinians for every Israeli hostage. To date, Israel has handed over the bodies of 285 Palestinians, as reported by the Red Cross and Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Challenges in Gaza’s Identification Efforts
Health officials in Gaza face difficulties identifying bodies due to a shortage of DNA testing kits, having positively identified only 84 of the bodies so far.
Under the U.S.-brokered ceasefire terms, Israel is expected to allow significantly increased humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Author's summary: The return of Lior Rudaeff’s remains marks modest progress in the U.S.-mediated ceasefire, highlighting ongoing challenges in identifying hostages and managing humanitarian efforts in Gaza.