The Prime Minister's Office announced Thursday that the remains of deceased hostages Inbar Hayman and Sgt. Maj. Muhammad Al-Atarash were returned to Israel and identification was completed. The coffins of two deceased hostages were handed over to Israel overnight from Gaza, were identified at the National Center of Forensic Medicine.
Hayman was murdered by the Hamas terror organization on October 7, 2023, during the Nova music festival, and her body was abducted to the Gaza Strip. Inbar, 27, was confirmed to be dead on December 15, 2023. She is survived by her parents and a brother.
🟡 IDF representatives informed the families of Inbar Hayman and Sergeant Major Muhammad Al-Atresh that their loved ones have been brought back for burial.
According to the information and intelligence available to the IDF:
- Inbar Hayman, 27, was murdered by Hamas during the…— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 16, 2025
Al-Atrash, from the Bedouin Sawaa tribe, served as a tracker in the Northern Brigade in the Gaza border area, fell in battle on the morning of October 7, and his body was abducted by the Hamas terror organization. Muhammad, 39 at the time of his death, had his death confirmed on June 24, 2024. He left behind parents, siblings, two wives, and 13 children.
"The IDF expresses deep condolences to the families and continues to make every effort to return all hostages to their families for a proper and dignified burial. Hamas is required to fulfill its part of the agreement and make the necessary efforts to return all the hostages to their families and to a dignified burial," the IDF in a statement.
The Petah Tikva Municipality and Mayor Rami Greenberg stated, "We send sincere condolences and strengthen the hands of the Hayman family with the return of Inbar to eternal rest in a proper burial in Petah Tikva. Our heart, together with the hearts of the residents, is with the family in this difficult and painful hour, and we will continue to accompany and support as needed."
According to the advisor, discussions are underway with countries like Egypt and Qatar, progressing positively, to ensure humanitarian aid reaches Gaza properly. The advisor emphasized that none of the deceased hostages will remain behind and that no one will be forced to leave the Strip against their will. He added that no reconstruction funds will flow to areas remaining under Hamas control and that the entire reconstruction process will be conducted under international supervision to prevent the organization from regaining strength.
US President Donald Trump stated on Wednesday regarding the return of deceased hostages' remains that "they (Hamas) are searching for them, definitely. We have all the living hostages, they returned more (deceased today), this is a horrifying process, I almost hate to talk about it. But they're digging, they're actually digging, there are areas where they're digging and finding many bodies that need to be separated. You wouldn't believe this. Some of these bodies have been there a very long time."
