Eitan Levy confirmed as one of bodies returned by Hamas last night

Eitan Levy, 53, has been confirmed as one of the bodies returned by Hamas last night, the Hostages and Missing Families forum announces.

Levy, from Bat Yam, was listed as missing for more than 40 days before being officially recognized as a hostage. After 62 days, the Israel Defense Forces informed his family that he was presumed killed while in captivity in Gaza.

A cab driver, Levy, dropped a passenger off in Kibbutz Be’eri around 7:15 a.m. on October 7, 2023. He then called his son, Shahar, to tell him about the Hamas missiles. While on the phone, Shahar heard his father run into a Hamas ambush, and he heard Arabic shouting in the background and shooting before the call was ultimately disconnected.

After Levy was missing for 40 days, his family was informed that he was believed to be held hostage in Gaza. Then, in December 2023, authorities confirmed that Eitan had been murdered on October 7 and his body taken captive.

In August 2024, his family agreed to release graphic footage of Levy’s body being driven through the streets of Gaza and being kicked and stomped on by Gazans.

After his death was confirmed, Eitan’s family held a memorial service and sat shiva, the weeklong mourning period, but were not able to hold a funeral.

He is survived by his son, Shahar, and his sister, Sigi.

“Alongside the sorrow and the understanding that the heart will never be whole again, Eitan’s return brings some measure of solace to a family that has lived with painful uncertainty for more than two years,” the headquarters says. “We will not rest and we will not stop until all 20 hostages are returned home.”