The last body returned by Hamas to Israel is that of a man who also had Romanian citizenship
Tal Haimi, kidnapped by Hamas, died, Photo: DAVID GRAY / AFP / Profimedia
Israel announced on Tuesday that the thirteenth lifeless body handed over to Gaza by Hamas on Monday was identified as that of Tal Haimi, a non-commissioned officer killed on October 7, 2023, reports France Presse.
Tal Haimi, who also had Romanian citizenship, was killed on the very first day of the Hamas attack, but his death was announced in December 2023 by his family and the Nir Yitzhak kibbutz where he lived.
A few weeks after the attack, his wife, Ella Haimi, was in Romania and met with various officials, including Nicolae Ciucă, the president of the Senate, to ask the Romanian authorities for help in efforts to free the hostages taken to Gaza
What the Israeli authorities said on Tuesday
“At the end of the identification process conducted by the National Institute of Forensic Medicine […] the representatives [armatei] have informed the family of the hostage, Staff Sergeant Tal Haimi, that his remains have been repatriated to Israel and that their identification has been completed,” Netanyahu's office said in a statement.
Tal Haimi, 41, commander of Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak's defense force, was killed on October 7, 2023, during the Hamas attack on Israel that triggered the Gaza War. His body was taken that day to Gaza to be used as a bargaining chip.
“On the morning of October 7, Tal went out to defend his community, fighting dozens of terrorists at the gates of Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak. He and his team showed exceptional courage, fighting for several hours,” said a statement from the Hostage Families Forum, the main Israeli organization fighting for the return of Gaza captives, both alive and dead. dead.
Hamas handed over 13 of the 28 bodies it committed to
On Monday evening, Israel announced that it had recovered, through the Red Cross, another lifeless body of a hostage.
Prior to this handover, Hamas had returned 12 of the 28 bodies of hostages it pledged to return to Israel under the Gaza ceasefire agreement that came into effect on October 10 under pressure from the United States.
According to the agreement, the Palestinian Islamist movement had to release all hostages by October 13. But while it released the last 20 hostages alive on time, Hamas cited logistical difficulties (notably finding the bodies in a Gaza Strip ravaged by more than two years of war) to meet the planned timetable.
US President Donald Trump warned on Monday that Hamas would be “eradicated” if it did not abide by the deal with Israel, while Vice President JD Vance is expected in Israel on Tuesday for a visit aimed at bolstering the fragile Gaza ceasefire.
