3 bodies returned by Hamas confirmed as IDF soldiers Asaf Hamami, Oz Daniel, Omer Neutra

Military representatives have notified the families of hostage soldiers Col. Asaf Hamami, Cpt. Omer Neutra, and Staff Sgt. Oz Daniel, that their bodies were returned to Israel by Hamas last night, following the completion of identification efforts by forensic experts.

Hamami, 40, the commander of the Gaza Division’s Southern Brigade, was killed while battling Hamas terrorists in the Gaza border community of Kibbutz Nirim on the morning of October 7, 2023, and his body was abducted to Gaza. He is survived by his wife and their three young children, and his parents.

Neutra, 21, a lone soldier from the US, was a platoon commander in the 7th Armored Brigade’s 77th Battalion, and he was also killed while battling Hamas terrorists on the border near Nirim during the onslaught, and his body was taken to the Strip. He is survived by his parents and four younger siblings.

Daniel, 19, served in the same tank as Neutra, and he was also killed while battling the terrorists, and his body was abducted. He is survived by his parents and his twin sister.

“The Government of Israel shares in the profound grief of the Hamami, Neutra, and Daniel families, and of all the families of the fallen hostages,” says the Prime Minister’s Office in a statement.

It says that Israel is “determined, committed, and working tirelessly” to bring back all remaining eight deceased hostages for burial, adding that Hamas is “required to fulfill its commitments to the mediators and return them as part of the implementation of the agreement.”