Overview
- Israeli authorities confirmed the return and forensic identification of Lior Rudaeff, who fell defending Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak on October 7, 2023.
- After the identification, Israel handed over 15 Palestinian bodies to Gaza under the cease-fire’s body-for-body arrangement.
- Hamas released footage and told Al Jazeera it had located Lt. Hadar Goldin’s body in Rafah, a claim the IDF says it cannot confirm as the army chief briefed the family and urged restraint pending verification.
- The remains of five deceased hostages are still held in Gaza: Meny Godard, Hadar Goldin, Ran Gvili, Dror Or and Thai citizen Sudthisak Rinthalak.
- Tens of thousands rallied in Israel to demand the final returns, as recovery efforts continue under limited forensic capacity in Gaza and ongoing U.S.-mediated contacts.