Israel confirmed Sunday night that Hamas returned the remains of three soldiers killed on October 7, 2023: Col. Asaf Hamami, Cpt. Omer Neutra, and Staff Sgt. Oz Daniel. Their identities were verified overnight by forensic experts, and their families were notified.
Eight deceased hostages are still believed to remain in Gaza.
Col. Hamami, 40, was a respected commander who died fighting terrorists in Kibbutz Nirim. He is remembered as a witty, dedicated leader who placed his family and his soldiers above all else.
Cpt. Omer Neutra, 21, an American-Israeli and tank platoon commander, was killed when his tank was struck near Nirim. His family mourned for more than a year before his death was confirmed.
Staff Sgt. Oz Daniel, 19, from Kfar Saba, died alongside Neutra. A gifted guitarist, he was celebrated as warm, moral, and deeply beloved by friends and family.
The bodies were transferred via the Red Cross and escorted to the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute. Israel says it remains committed to retrieving all remaining hostages and accused Hamas of delaying agreed-upon returns.
