The Prime Minister's Office announced early Tuesday morning that the body of hostage Tal Haimi was returned for burial in Israel.
The IDF said in a statement, "Following the completion of the identification process by the National Institute of Forensic Medicine, in cooperation with the Israel Police and the Military Rabbinate, IDF representatives informed the family of Sergeant Major Tal Haimi that he had been returned for burial."
According to the information and intelligence available to the IDF, Sergeant Major Tal Haimi, commander of Nir Yitzhak’s rapid response team, fell during combat defending the kibbutz on the morning of October 7th, 2023, and his body was taken into the Gaza Strip by the Hamas terrorist organization. Tal Haimi was 41 years old at the time of his death. His death was pronounced on December 13th, 2023.
He leaves behind a wife, four children (one of whom he never got a chance to meet), a father, and a sister.
"The IDF expresses deep condolences to the family, continues to make every effort to return all the deceased hostages, and is prepared for the continued implementation of the agreement," the IDF said.
"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," it added.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum Headquarters and Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak said in a statement, "The families of the hostages and the released, together with the Nir Yitzhak community, embrace the family of Tal Haimi following the return of their beloved Tal to Israel tonight for a proper burial."
"Alongside the profound grief and the understanding that their hearts will never be whole again, Tal’s return brings a measure of solace to a family that has lived in unbearable uncertainty and anguish for more than two years. We will not rest until all the hostages are brought home."
Following the identification of Haimi's body, 15 deceased hostages remain in the hands of Hamas in Gaza.
On Monday evening, the IDF said that it has received the body of a murdered hostage from the Red Cross, which had collected the coffin of the hostage from Hamas.
"The IDF requests that people act with sensitivity and await the official identification that will first be given to the families of the hostages. Hamas is required to abide by the agreement and to make all necessary efforts to return the fallen hostages," the army said in a statement.
Later, the IDF stated: "According to information provided by the Red Cross, a coffin of a deceased hostage has been transferred into its custody and is on the way to IDF troops in the Gaza Strip. Hamas is required to uphold the agreement and take the necessary steps to return all the hostages."
Shortly before 11:00 p.m., the coffin arrived at the National Center for Forensic Medicine in Abu Kabir for identification.
After the hostage's coffin reached the IDF, a military rabbi held a short ceremony which included the recitation of Tehillim and covering the coffin with the Israeli flag.
The Prime Minister's Office stated: "Israel has received, via the Red Cross, the coffin containing the remains of a deceased hostage, which was handed over to an IDF and ISA force inside the Gaza Strip. From there, the coffin will be transferred to Israel, where it will be received in a military ceremony in the presence of an IDF Rabbi."
"It will then be transferred to the Health Ministry National Center of Forensic Medicine. Upon completion of the identification process, formal notification will be delivered to the family.
"All of the hostages' families have been updated accordingly, and our hearts are with them in this difficult hour. The effort to return our hostages is ongoing and will not cease until the last hostage is returned.
"The public is requested to respect the families' privacy and to refrain from spreading rumors and unofficial and unverified information. We will continue to provide updates with reliable information as necessary."