Military appears to confirm one of bodies returned yesterday not a hostage, believed to be a Gazan

The military says its representatives notified the families of Staff Sgt. Tamir Nimrodi, 18, Uriel Baruch, 35, and Eitan Levy, 53, that their bodies were returned by Hamas last night, and had been identified by forensic experts.

Their families were notified “following the completion of the identification process,” the Israel Defense Forces says.

Neither the IDF nor the Prime Minister’s Office mentions the fourth body handed over by Hamas, which is assessed to belong to a Palestinian.

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

Nimrodi, who was abducted alive from the Coordination and Liaison Administration to the Gaza Strip base near the Erez Crossing on October 7, 2023, is assessed to have been killed in captivity at the start of the war, the military says. Until now, Israel had not confirmed his death.

“Final conclusions will be formulated after the completion of the examination of the circumstances of death” at Abu Kabir, the IDF says.

Baruch, according to the IDF’s intelligence, was murdered by Hamas on October 7 near Mefalsim after fleeing the Nova music festival near Re’im, and his body was abducted to Gaza.

The IDF says that according to its intelligence, Levy was also murdered by Hamas on October 7 near Mefalsim, and his body was abducted to Gaza.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office warns that Hamas “is required to fulfill its commitments to the mediators and to return [the remaining bodies] as part of the agreement’s implementation.”

“We will not compromise on this and will spare no effort until we bring back all of the fallen hostages,” promises the PMO, “every single one of them.”