Three deceased hostages were returned to Israel on Sunday night: Col. Asaf Hamami, commander of the IDF's Southern Brigade and the highest-ranking officer abducted on October 7; Capt. Omer Neutra, an IDF officer whose family was informed of his death in December 2024; and Sgt. Oz Daniel, an IDF soldier kidnapped to Gaza and listed as missing since October 7, later declared killed in action on February 25, 2024.
Hamami, 41, was the most senior officer taken hostage during the Hamas-led massacre. Neutra, 22, immigrated to Israel from the US as a lone soldier to enlist in the IDF and commanded an outpost near Nir Oz on the day of the attack, leading the first response teams toward the border fence. Daniel, 19, was remembered as a music lover and fan of Guns N' Roses who left behind his parents and twin sister.
Eight deceased hostages are still being held in the Gaza Strip: Hadar Goldin, Itay Chen, Manny Godard, Lior Rudaeff, Dror Or, Ran Gvili, Joshua Lewito Mulol and Sutthisak Rintalak.
The Prime Minister's Office confirmed the identification of the three soldiers after forensic examination at the National Center of Forensic Medicine. "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," the statement read. "The government and all of Israel's security and intelligence apparatuses remain determined and committed to bringing every one of our fallen hostages home for proper burial in Israel."
US presidential envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff commented Sunday night on the return of Capt. Neutra's body. "I spoke with Omer's parents earlier this evening," Witkoff said. "I'm gratified that the efforts of President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu succeeded in bringing the Neutra family a measure of closure. Omer was a hero, and his memory will be a blessing to all who knew or heard of him."
Ronen Neutra, Omer's father, wrote following the announcement that his son was "finally on Israeli soil." He added, quoting from the Book of Jeremiah: "There is hope for your future, says the Lord, and your children shall return to their own border. Our Omer is on Israeli soil, at last. So much pain, and yet such relief."
