Israel has confirmed that the body returned by Hamas on Thursday is that of Meny Godard, a 73-year-old who was killed during the 7 October 2023 attacks on Kibbutz Be’eri. His remains were handed over to the Red Cross hours after Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad issued a joint statement saying the body had been located in the Khan Younis area of southern Gaza.
According to the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, forensic tests verified Godard’s identity. He was killed alongside his wife, Ayelet, in the Hamas-led assault that claimed 1,200 Israeli lives and resulted in the abduction of 251 hostages.
Godard’s return marks another step in the first phase of the current US-backed ceasefire arrangement aimed at ending the Gaza war. Under the agreement, Hamas committed to returning 20 living hostages and 28 deceased ones. Israel states that three bodies remain in Gaza two Israeli citizens and one Thai national.
All living Israeli hostages were released on 13 October as part of a major exchange involving 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,718 detainees from Gaza. For each deceased Israeli hostage returned, Israel has agreed to hand over the remains of 15 Palestinians. However, the lack of DNA testing facilities in Gaza has made accurate identification difficult.
Israel accuses Hamas of intentionally delaying the recovery process, while Hamas says the challenge lies in locating bodies buried under extensive rubble left by months of bombardment.
The slow pace of returns has stalled movement toward the second phase of the US peace plan, which includes proposals for Gaza’s governance, Israeli troop withdrawal, Hamas disarmament, and large-scale reconstruction.
Meanwhile, Gaza’s health ministry reports that more than 69,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s retaliatory operations—figures the UN considers credible.
Meny Godard’s identification brings partial closure to his family, but the broader humanitarian and political crisis continues to cast a long shadow over the region.
