The Prime Minister’s Office announced early Wednesday morning that the bodies of hostages Arie (Zalman) Zalmanowicz and Tamir Adar had been returned by Hamas to Israel and positively identified.
The IDF Spokesperson's Unit stated, “According to the information and intelligence available to us, Arie (Zalman) Zalmanowicz was abducted alive from his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz by the Hamas terrorist organization on October 7, 2023.”
It added that Zalmanowicz is believed to have been murdered in captivity . He was 85 years old at the time of his death and is survived by two sons and five grandchildren.
"The final conclusions will be made upon completion of the examination of the circumstances of death in the National Institute of Forensic Medicine. The IDF expresses deep condolences to the families, continues to make every effort to return all the deceased hostages, and is prepared for the continued implementation of the agreement."
"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."
Zalmanowicz was born in Haifa and left his parents' home at a young age to establish Kibbutz Nir Oz with his friends in a Nahal nucleus. He was a father to two sons and grandfather to five grandchildren.
The Hostages Families Forum Headquarters said that "Arie was a man of the land all his life, specializing in growing wheat in the harsh conditions of the Negev. A man of books with extensive knowledge of history and the land of Israel, he was a tough and modest man who demanded nothing for himself. In all rounds of fighting, he refused to leave his home. He was the oldest hostage in Hamas captivity. On October 7, he was kidnapped alive and murdered in captivity."
According to the information and intelligence available to the IDF, Master Sergeant (Res.) Tamir Adar, deputy security coordinator and a member of the Nir Oz rapid response team, fell during battle defending the Kibbutz on October 7th, 2023, and his body was taken captive by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
Tamir Adar was 38 years old at the time of his death. His death was pronounced on January 4th, 2024. He leaves behind a wife and two children, parents, two brothers, and a sister.
His grandmother, Yaffa Adar, was also abducted and returned as part of the hostage release agreement in November 2023.
Adar was recognized as a fallen IDF soldier after the return of his body for burial in Israel.
On Tuesday evening, two coffins containing the bodies of the two deceased hostages, which had been handed over by the Hamas terrorist organization, entered Israel and were taken to the National Center for Forensic Medicine for identification.
The IDF announced earlier that two coffins of deceased hostages have been transferred into its custody after Hamas turned the coffins over to the Red Cross.
"Two coffins of deceased hostages, escorted by IDF troops, crossed the border into the State of Israel a short while ago and are on their way to the National Institute for Forensic Medicine, where identification procedures will be carried out," the IDF said. "IDF representatives are accompanying the families. The IDF urges the public to act with sensitivity and wait for official identification, which will first be communicated to the families of the deceased hostages."
When the Red Cross began to head toward the meeting point with Hamas to receive the coffins, the military stated, "The IDF requests that the public act with sensitivity and wait for the official identification, which will first be provided to the families of the hostages. Hamas is required to uphold the agreement and take the necessary steps to return all the deceased hostages."
Later, the IDF stated: "According to information provided by the Red Cross, two coffins of deceased hostages have been transferred into their custody and are on their way to IDF troops in the Gaza Strip. Hamas is required to uphold the agreement and take the necessary steps to return all the deceased hostages."
With the return of the two hostages, the bodies of 13 hostages remain in captivity in Gaza.
The Prime Minister's Office stated: "Israel has received, via the Red Cross, coffins containing the remains of two deceased hostages, which were handed over to an IDF and ISA force inside the Gaza Strip. From there, the coffins will be transferred to Israel, where they will be received in a military ceremony in the presence of the IDF Chief Rabbi."
"They 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 their families.
"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," the PMO stated.