On October 18, 2025, the remains of Eliyahu Margalit, a 75-year-old Israeli farmer and one of the country’s most respected cattle-breeders, were finally returned to Israel after being held in Gaza for over two years. This somber milestone marks the latest chapter in the ongoing saga of hostages and casualties resulting from the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel—a tragedy that continues to reverberate across the region, with families on both sides still seeking closure and justice.
According to the Associated Press, the handover was facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross, following days of tense negotiations and efforts by Hamas to recover and return the bodies of hostages still trapped beneath the rubble of war-torn Gaza. The Israeli military confirmed the identification of Margalit’s remains, stating, “Hamas is required to uphold the agreement and take the necessary steps to return all the deceased hostages.”
Margalit’s story is both personal and emblematic. On the morning of October 7, 2023, he went to feed his beloved horses at the stables in Kibbutz Nir Oz—his daily ritual—when he was killed during the attack and his body subsequently taken into Gaza. As reported by Fox News, Margalit was initially confirmed dead in December 2023, but it took 742 days before his remains were returned home. His daughter, Nili Margalit, was also abducted during the same attack but was released during a brief ceasefire in November 2023. Margalit leaves behind a wife, three children, and several grandchildren, and his family, in a statement quoted by The Times of Israel, expressed, “Our beloved Eli has returned home, 742 days after he was murdered and kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz. We thank the people of Israel and the Hostage Families Forum for their support in the long struggle for his return, and promise that we will not stop or rest until the last of the hostages is returned for burial in Israel.”
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which has become a central voice for those affected by the hostage crisis, echoed this sentiment: “Alongside the grief and the understanding that their hearts will never be whole again, Eliyahu’s return brings some measure of solace to a family that has lived in unbearable uncertainty and doubt for over two years. We will not rest until all 18 hostages are brought home.” The Forum’s commitment is unwavering, as weekly rallies continue across Israel, demanding the return of all hostages and their remains from Gaza.
Margalit’s return marks the tenth deceased hostage to be handed over to Israel since the ceasefire deal was brokered. According to i24NEWS, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have confirmed that 18 more deceased hostages remain in Gaza, including two U.S. citizens, Itay Chen and Omer Neutra. The IDF and Shin Bet security service have jointly stated that the identification of all remains will first be provided to families, emphasizing the importance of closure and dignity for the bereaved.
Hamas, for its part, has stated that it is committed to the terms of the ceasefire agreement, which required the group to hand over all hostages—living and dead—by October 13, 2025. However, the group has cited significant obstacles to retrieving the bodies, including the destruction of tunnels and buildings by Israeli forces and the lack of heavy machinery in Gaza due to the war. On October 17, 2025, two bulldozers were seen in Hamad City, Khan Younis, as Hamas used what little equipment remained to search for hostages’ remains. The Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ military wing, explained that some remains were still trapped under rubble, and blamed Israel for not allowing new bulldozers into Gaza, further complicating recovery efforts.
American officials have acknowledged these challenges, noting that the scale of devastation and the presence of unexploded ordnance have made the retrieval of bodies extremely dangerous and slow. Hamas has also informed mediators that some bodies are located in areas currently controlled by Israeli troops, adding yet another layer of complexity to an already fraught process.
The ceasefire agreement, introduced with international mediation, saw the release of all 20 living Israeli hostages on October 13, 2025, in exchange for the freedom of approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. But the deal’s implementation has been anything but straightforward. U.S. President Donald Trump, who played a central role in brokering the ceasefire, has warned that Israel will resume military operations if Hamas fails to return all hostages’ bodies, a threat that looms over the fragile peace.
The devastation in Gaza remains staggering. The Health Ministry in the Hamas-run territory reports that nearly 68,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of Israel’s campaign, a figure that U.N. agencies and independent experts consider generally reliable. Thousands more are still missing, with the Red Cross noting that the true toll may never be fully known. The October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas militants resulted in around 1,200 Israeli deaths and the abduction of some 250 hostages, setting off the spiral of violence and retribution that continues to this day.
Humanitarian concerns are at the forefront as well. The U.N. has highlighted the dire situation in Gaza, where the flow of aid remains constrained by closed crossings and strict Israeli restrictions. Since the ceasefire began a week ago, only 339 U.N.-coordinated aid trucks have been offloaded for distribution, far below the 600 trucks per day stipulated in the agreement. Crossings were closed on October 13 and 14 for the exchange of hostages and prisoners and due to a Jewish holiday, further delaying relief. Tom Fletcher, head of the U.N. office for the coordination of humanitarian aid, has urged the opening of more crossings, warning, “The challenges ahead are immense.”
Nevertheless, there have been glimmers of hope. The U.N. World Food Program’s Castle Bakery in Deir al-Balah has been able to increase production to 300,000 loaves of pita bread per day, thanks to improved access to fuel and flour under the ceasefire. Nahed Sheheiber, head of Gaza’s private truckers’ union, noted that better security has prevented looting of aid convoys, even if the overall volume of supplies has not increased significantly.
On the diplomatic front, France, the U.S., and Britain are working on a U.N. resolution to establish an international force for Gaza, with Arab countries expected to contribute troops. The proposed force would oversee Egyptian-trained Palestinian police and help stabilize the region, but details on funding and participation remain unresolved. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has voiced concerns that Israel might use Hamas’ lack of equipment as a pretext to resume hostilities, emphasizing the need for a buffer zone to prevent further harm.
As the world watches and waits, the return of Eliyahu Margalit’s body serves as both a moment of closure for one family and a stark reminder of the many still waiting for answers. The pain of loss is palpable, but so too is the determination of those who continue to demand accountability, relief, and—above all—peace.