IsraAID activated domestic emergency operations immediately following the October 7 violence, the organization reported. The agency has sustained assistance delivery to at-risk Israeli populations for 26 months since, according to IsraAID. The Taipei office has joined international and charitable contributions to support multiple intervention streams: partnership with "255" establishing tailored support architectures for freed captives and family members; "Nitzanim Shel Ofir," a community-originated youth activation program at Kibbutz Kfar Aza; expressive arts therapy at Kibbutz Beeri, plus additional undertakings, the organization stated.

During her November 27 tour of Kibbutz Kfar Aza, the head of the Taipei office, Representative Abby Lee said the following, according to IsraAID:

"We are pleased to join the efforts of IsraAID in the reconnection, empowerment and rehabilitation projects in Kfar Aza, Beeri and with hostages and their extended families... I hope that the projects we are partnering on with IsraAID will help young leaders to reconnect to their communities and cultivate a sense of togetherness."

IsraAID Chief Executive Yotam Polizer expressed appreciation, saying it was "a powerful statement of solidarity."

IsraAID's intervention philosophy emphasizes extended presence in affected regions, working to amplify indigenous resilience mechanisms for sustainable futures, the organization stated. Alliances like the Taipei office collaboration enable persistent influence with crisis-impacted communities across national and international contexts, the announcement concluded.

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Bachar, 61, is a senior IDF officer who previously commanded the IDF Ground Forces Command, the Gaza Division, the Galilee Formation, the Paratroopers Brigade, the 101st Battalion, the Maglan Unit, and the Paratroopers Reconnaissance Unit.

A resident of Kibbutz Be'eri, Bachar's mother, Geula, was murdered in the October 7 massacre carried out by Hamas terrorists.

Sahar Baruch, 25, was kidnapped from his home in Be'eri by Hamas terrorists and taken to Gaza, where he was murdered. His brother Idan was also murdered by Hamas on the same day. The two left behind their parents, Tami and Roni, and brothers Guy and Niv.

"The tears choke me. Why does all this pain have to fall on Tami, my dear sister?" Bachar wrote in a Facebook post. "Idan was murdered on that black Saturday, and Sahar, who survived the massacre, was kidnapped to Gaza, where, on the night of December 8, he was killed during a failed rescue operation by Sayeret Matkal. We'll leave it to the unit's men to share the operational details."

Bachar said the family will lay Sahar to rest this Sunday in Be'eri's soil, beside his brother Idan. "In the same cemetery with Grandma Geula, Naomi, Carmel, Dana, and the other dear and beloved people of Be'eri."

In his post, Bachar expressed both sorrow and a sense of relief: "An unbearable price of war. Sahar was so close to coming home. And yet, even in these moments of pain and frustration, we must acknowledge the immense relief. For Tami, Roni, Guy, Niv, and Grandpa, there will finally be a place to cry. A place where Sahar will rest forever."

He also praised the IDF soldiers who fought for the hostages' return: "All of this is thanks to the brave soldiers of the IDF—those who came back from the battlefield and those who did not—whose courage in this difficult war created the conditions for the deal that brought the hostages home. And yesterday evening, our Sahar was returned to us."

"We will accompany Sahar on Sunday," Bachar added. "We will comfort his parents, his brothers, and our grieving grandfather Yitzhak. We will wipe our tears and rise to rebuild and strengthen Be'eri, to bring the community home as soon as possible. It will be good again here in Be'eri, we will make sure of that."

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The Prime Minister's Office stated, "IDF representatives informed the family of hostage Sonthaya Oakkharasr, of blessed memory, that their loved one has been returned to Israel and his identification has been completed. The Government of Israel shares in the deep sorrow of the Oakkharasr family, the people of Thailand and all the families of the fallen hostages. The Government and the entire establishment for the missing and the captives of the State of Israel are determined, committed, and working tirelessly to return all of our fallen hostages for proper burial in their country. The Hamas terrorist organization is required to uphold its commitments to the mediators and return them as part of the implementation of the agreement. We will not compromise on this and will spare no effort until we return all of the fallen hostages, every last one of them. May his memory be for a blessing.

Following the completion of the identification process, the additional deceased hostage who was returned is Suntaya Akrasi.

According to the information and intelligence available to the IDF: Suntaya Akrasi, a Thai citizen, was murdered by the Hamas terrorist organization on… pic.twitter.com/y4yR2JemMa

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 19, 2025

The IDF Spokesperson stated, "Following the completion of the identification process, the additional deceased hostage who was returned is Sonthaya Oakkharasr. According to the information and intelligence available to the IDF: Sonthaya Oakkharasr, a Thai citizen, was murdered by the Hamas terrorist organization on October 7th, 2023, and his body was taken into Gaza. Oakkharasr, 30 years old at the time of his death, was abducted from the orchards of Kibbutz Be'eri. His death was pronounced on May 16th, 2024. The IDF expresses deep condolences to the family, and continues to make every effort to return all the deceased hostages. 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."

In an interview Oakkharasr's mother gave to BBC in 2024, she described receiving a phone call when she took the buffalo to the field. "I received a phone call from a foreign number starting with a plus sign. I was happy, I thought perhaps there was good news. But when I learned it was bad news, we just stood there, my husband and I, we held hands and cried together in the middle of the field."

Oakkharasr was among eight Thai hostages abducted on October 7, 2023, by Hamas. The call the family received from an Israeli Foreign Ministry official on May 16, 2024, was only official confirmation that their eldest son was killed on the day of the massacre, when Hamas attacked the agricultural area in Israel where he worked and was captured. He was supposed to complete his five-year work contract in October 2023 and return to his village home but never made it.

The statement from the Hostages, Returnees and Missing Persons Administration in the Prime Minister's Office stated, "The Hostages, Returnees and Missing Persons Administration in the Prime Minister's Office bows its head and shares the grief of the Engel family, with the return for burial in Israel of Ronen, may his memory be blessed, and also in the grief of the family of Thai citizen Sonthaya Oakkharasr, may his memory be blessed. The Administration will continue to accompany their families, together with the other families. We long for the swift return home of all the remaining 16 hostages."

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As air raid sirens pierced the early hours of Friday, millions of Israelis braced for developments. Jenner, unaccustomed to such alerts, is residing at the David Intercontinental Hotel in Tel Aviv, where Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality officials are keeping her informed and supported.

A Fox News team is filming Jenner's visit, preserving her experiences for a global audience. On Thursday, she appeared on Israeli television news, discussing her stay. When asked about her family's concerns, she recounted, "I spoke with my daughter Kylie, and she urged me to stay safe. I reassured her, 'Don't worry, I'll keep myself safe, and they'll take care of me.'"

Though the Pride Parade was canceled, Jenner toured meaningful locations on Thursday, including Jerusalem's Western Wall, Kibbutz Be'eri, and the Nova Festival site. At a press conference on Wednesday, shortly after arriving, she articulated her solidarity with Israel. "It is my honor to be here," she declared. "One of the reasons I support Israel is that Israel and the Jewish tradition are important. When I was 13, my father fought against the Nazis. He had pictures from the war, and it affected him. As a young person, I looked at those pictures and couldn't believe humanity was capable of such things. It opened my eyes for the first time, and since then, I have been on the side of the Jewish people. Now I have the opportunity to come here and show my support."

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The display creators stress that the flag was designed to reflect the pain of the community and convey a clear message: there can be no true rebirth, no celebration of independence, while hostages remain in enemy hands.

"For us, Independence Day is not a holiday," said Ofer Gitai, head of the kibbutz's social division. "Not when our friends are still being held captive. Not when the families of the kibbutz are still unable to bury their loved ones in the soil of this land and close the circle of terror. We cannot recover until all the hostages are home. We must bring them back — now. The living to be rehabilitated, the dead to be buried."

Gitai added: "The number 59 at the heart of the flag is a cry. They're still there, and we're here, feeling their absence with every breath. That's why we're raising a flag today without a Star of David at its center, instead, we've placed the number 59, representing those held in captivity. The Star of David is a symbol of hope, of wholeness, of independence. But this year too, there is no independence, no wholeness. As for hope, we are fighting every day to hold on to it. We have no other choice. Our flag is wounded, just like our hearts."

A video of the display was released, underscoring the community's ongoing trauma and unwavering demand for the return of all hostages.

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Israeli security forces have recovered the body of Itay Svirsky, 38, after 425 days in Gaza. He was kidnapped from Kibbutz Be'eri on October 7, the same day his parents were killed in the Hamas attack. The recovery comes after confirmation of his death in January alongside fellow hostage Yossi Sharabi after 99 days in Hamas captivity.

Svirsky, from Tel Aviv, had visited Kibbutz Be'eri, where he grew up, on October 7 to see his divorced parents, who lived separately in the kibbutz and were both killed. Svirsky was with his mother,r Orit, 70, when terrorists entered her room. Both were hiding under a blanket when the terrorists opened fire, killing his mother and reportedly wounding Svirsky. At the same time, in another house in the kibbutz, his father, Rafi Svirsky, was killed. His grandmother, Aviva Sela, 97, one of Be'eri's founders, survived miraculously, but her caregiver Grace, who protected her, was killed.

His body was recovered in a sensitive operation, with details of the location and recovery method withheld to preserve operational security for future missions. In January, Hamas released a video showing Svirsky and Sharabi – both later killed in captivity – along with Noa Argamani, who was rescued from Gaza in June during "Operation Arnon."

Noa Argamani paid tribute to Svirsky, who was with her during their difficult captivity, in an Instagram story posted in July. "You were by my side throughout the journey, and I by yours. You were my friend, my conversation partner, and the big brother I never had. You taught me about the complexity of the soul and how each of us deals with things differently, that there's no wrong way, each person has their path. I thank you for the days when I was terrified, and you always sai,d 'I'm here with you. It's hard, but I'm here with you,'" she wrote.

She continued: "It's been 191 days that you're not here with me, and it still hasn't sunk in that innocent people are being murdered. All I have left to say is thank you. Thank you for being by my side all this time, thank you for listening to my fears, thank you for simply being there. I promise you'll always be a part of me, that I'll never forget you, and that I'll do my very best to give you a proper burial. I wish you knew how much we all love you. May your memory be blessed."

This week, during a protest outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's residence in Jerusalem, marking one year since the hostage deal, Svirsky's sister, Meirav, shared her feelings: "In the week when 105 women, men and children returned, when I knew Itay wouldn't return since he was a 38-year-old man, I was surprised by the intensity of emotions I experienced. Then the stories and testimonies came, including about Itay. From that moment, with every bite, every shower, every time I laid my head on the pillow, thoughts of Itay came, and with them, feelings of guilt."

Following the recovery of Shvirsky's body, 100 hostages remain in Hamas captivity in Gaza, now for 425 days.

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