Who was returned under the Gaza ceasefire?
The Israeli military says that, under the recent Gaza ceasefire, Hamas handed over 20 living hostages and the bodies of 25 people who died in captivity. Most of those taken were among the 251 people abducted in the 7 October 2023 assault on southern Israel, an attack that killed around 1,200 people. Israel's subsequent military campaign in Gaza has been deadly: the territory's Hamas-run health ministry reports more than 68,000 deaths during the fighting.
Living hostages (selected profiles)
Gali and Ziv Berman, 28 — Twin brothers abducted from Kibbutz Kfar Aza alongside neighbour Emily Damari. Ziv was held with Emily for 40 days before being separated; Emily was released in January 2025. Family members said other released captives had confirmed the brothers were alive.
Ariel Cunio, 28 — Kidnapped during the attack on Kibbutz Nir Oz. His brother, Eitan, who escaped the attackers, said Ariel’s last message was: “We are in a horror movie.” Ariel’s partner, Arbel Yehud, was freed in January 2025.
David Cunio, 35 — Another brother from Nir Oz. David’s wife, Sharon, and their then-three-year-old twin daughters, Ema and Yuly, were released during the November 2023 truce; other relatives were also freed.
Avinatan Or, 32 — Seized at the Nova music festival with his girlfriend, Noa Argamani; they were separated. Noa was later rescued in an Israeli operation in June 2024. His mother described longing simply to hear his heartbeat again.
Matan Angrest, 22 — An IDF soldier pulled unconscious from a tank near the Gaza perimeter on 7 October. Released hostages had reported he suffered chronic asthma, burns and infections.
Matan Zangauker, 25 — Taken from Nir Oz with partner Ilana Gritzewsky (released November 2023). A December 2024 Hamas video showed Matan reporting skin ailments and shortages of basic supplies.
Eitan Horn, 38 — Israeli–Argentine seized with his older brother, Yair, from Nir Oz. Yair was freed in February 2025; footage showed the brothers embracing before Yair’s release.
Nimrod Cohen, 21 — Serving as an IDF soldier when his tank was attacked at Nahal Oz. After the ceasefire, his mother posted that he was coming home.
Omri Miran, 48 — Abducted from his Nahal Oz home; his wife Lishay said she last saw him being driven away in his car. Hamas released a video of Omri on his 48th birthday in April 2025.
Guy Gilboa-Dalal, 24 — Attended the Nova festival with his brother Gal, who escaped. Hamas footage showed Guy being driven around Gaza City in late August as Israeli forces prepared an offensive.
Alon Ohel, 24 — Holds Israeli, German and Serbian citizenship; filmed being taken from the Nova festival and later pictured in Gaza City. A recent family photo suggested he had lost sight in one eye.
Yosef-Chaim Ohana, 25 — At the Nova festival helping others escape the gunfire before he and a friend were seized.
Elkana Bohbot, 36 — Working at the festival when abducted; reports from released hostages and media said he, who has asthma, suffered severe skin disease in captivity.
Eitan Mor, 25 — Festival security guard who reportedly saved dozens before being taken. Released captives said he helped lift other prisoners’ spirits while detained.
Maxim Herkin, 37 — An Israeli–Russian national who was filmed in Hamas videos in 2025 and later appeared bandaged; Hamas said injuries were caused by an Israeli air strike.
Bar Kupershtein, 23 — Worked at the festival and stayed behind to help treat casualties; later identified in hostage footage.
Segev Kalfon, 27 — Captured while fleeing the festival; released hostages later reported he had been held in a tunnel in very poor conditions.
Evyatar David, 24 — Texted his family that “they are bombarding the party” before being seized. August 2025 footage from Hamas showed him emaciated in a tunnel, prompting deep concern from his family.
Rom Braslabski, 21 — Festival security staff shot while trying to rescue an injured person; footage published in August 2025 showed him weak and starving. Medical experts who reviewed the footage spoke of signs consistent with prolonged, systematic starvation.
Bipin Joshi, 23 — A Nepalese agricultural student taken from Kibbutz Alumim. Video from October 2023 later showed him inside al-Shifa hospital in Gaza; the Israeli military confirmed later that Bipin was among bodies returned in October (year cited in source).
Bodies returned or confirmed dead (selected profiles)
Guy Illouz, 26 — Shot at the Nova festival and died of his wounds after being taken hostage, according to family testimony and released captives.
Yossi Sharabi, 53 — Abducted from Be’eri with his brother Eli. The kibbutz announced in January 2024 that he had been killed in Gaza; the IDF later concluded he likely died when a nearby building collapsed after an Israeli strike.
Daniel Peretz, 22 — An IDF captain in the 7th Armoured Brigade originally from South Africa; killed near Nahal Oz on 7 October and his body taken to Gaza, the IDF said.
Tamir Nimrodi, 20 — An education officer at the Erez Crossing; last seen in a video of his abduction. His remains were later returned and the family said he had been murdered in captivity.
Uriel Baruch, 35 — Abducted at the Nova festival; the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said the IDF informed the family in March 2024 that he had been killed on 7 October and his body taken to Gaza.
Eitan Levi, 53 — A taxi driver from Bat Yam who was killed near the Gaza perimeter; footage circulated showing his body being abused after it was taken into Gaza.
Inbar Hayman, 27 — A graffiti artist from Haifa volunteering at the Nova festival; the IDF said she was killed and her body taken to Gaza. She was the last female hostage held.
Muhammad al-Atarash, 39 — A sergeant-major in the IDF’s Northern Gaza Brigade and father of 13 from the Bedouin village of Sawa; the IDF confirmed in June 2024 that he was killed on 7 October and his body held in Gaza.
Ronen Engel, 54 — Abducted from his home in Nir Oz and killed on 7 October; the military announced his death in December 2023. His wife and daughters were later freed during a prior truce.
Eliyahu Margalit, 75 — From Kibbutz Nir Oz, who ran the cattle and horse stables; the IDF said he was killed on 7 October and pronounced dead on 1 December.
Tal Haimi, 41 — Member of Nir Yitzhak’s rapid response team; killed during the 7 October attack and his body returned on 20 October 2025.
Sonthaya Akrasri, 30 — A Thai agricultural worker killed at Kibbutz Be’eri; Thailand’s foreign ministry confirmed his death in May 2024. He was a father and had planned to open a farm in Thailand.
Tamir Adar, 38 — An IDF reservist and deputy security co‑ordinator of Nir Oz; killed fighting Hamas on 7 October according to his kibbutz.
Arie Zalmanowicz, 85 — Seized from Nir Oz on 7 October; Hamas released video of him in November 2023 and the kibbutz reported his death the next month. After his body was returned, the IDF estimated he was murdered in captivity on 17 November 2023.
Amiram Cooper, 84 — Abducted with his wife Nurit from Nir Oz; Nurit was released but Amiram remained captive and the IDF estimated he was murdered in captivity in early 2024. The circumstances of his death have been contested by different parties.
Sahar Baruch, 25 — Kidnapped in the Be’eri attack where other family members were killed. The IDF later estimated he was murdered in captivity in December 2023.
Asaf Hamami, 40 — A colonel and commander in the Gaza Division; killed fighting near Kibbutz Nirim on 7 October and subsequently taken to Gaza, the IDF said.
Omer Neutra, 21 — An Israeli-American tank commander and grandson of Holocaust survivors; the IDF said he was killed near the Gaza perimeter on 7 October and his body taken by captors.
Oz Daniel, 19 — A staff sergeant in the 7th Armoured Brigade; killed in fighting close to the Gaza perimeter on 7 October and taken to Gaza, the IDF reported.
Itay Chen, 19 — An Israeli-American soldier in the 7th Brigade; the IDF said he was killed inside a tank during combat in Nir Oz on 7 October and his body taken as a hostage.
Joshua Mollel, 21 — A Tanzanian agricultural intern at Kibbutz Nahal Oz; Tanzania confirmed he was killed on 7 October and that his body was being held by Hamas.
Lior Rudaeff, 61 — Killed defending Nir Yitzhak on 7 October; the IDF said his body was taken captive by Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ).
Hadar Goldin, 23 — A lieutenant in the IDF’s Givati Brigade who had previously been killed in 2014 combat in Gaza; included here as referenced by the source material.
Meny Godard, 73 — Killed during the Be’eri attack along with his wife Ayelet; some remains were later reported recovered at a PIJ outpost while other portions remain believed to be held.
Ran Gvili, 24 — A sergeant in the Israel Police killed while fighting in Kibbutz Alumim on 7 October; his body was taken to Gaza, the IDF said.
Suthisak Rintalak, 43 — A Thai agricultural worker killed in the Be’eri attack; Thailand’s foreign ministry cited available evidence in May 2024 and his body was reported held in Gaza.
Dror and Yonat Or — Both were killed in the attack on Be’eri; two of their children were taken hostage and later released during the November 2023 ceasefire.
Sources and context
The details above are drawn from family statements, released hostages, IDF briefings, videos released by Hamas and other militant groups, and reporting by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. Some circumstances remain contested or have been updated over time; where possible the text reflects the information reported by families, official military statements and corroborating video footage.
Note: This account aims to summarize publicly reported information. In many cases the exact circumstances of capture, detention and death were reconstructed from multiple sources and may be subject to later revision as more evidence emerges.
