Gaza City, Gaza Strip — The Israel Defense Forces confirmed that the remains recently returned through the Red Cross belong to a hostage who died during a raid on October 7. Eliyahu Margalit, 75, was identified as the deceased, whose body was retrieved from Gaza following an attack on the Nir Oz kibbutz.

Margalit’s death was made public by Israeli authorities last December, nearly a month after his daughter, Nili, was freed during a temporary ceasefire. The man, affectionately known to his loved ones as Churchill, marks the tenth confirmed dead hostage returned from the conflict, while an additional 18 families remain in mourning, awaiting the return of their loved ones.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum characterized Margalit as a passionate rancher with deep ties to his community, managing a cattle ranch and horse stables for many years. In a statement, the group expressed their sorrow and highlighted the personal impact of his loss on the local community.

The International Committee of the Red Cross underscored its commitment to handling the remains with dignity and respect. The remains will be examined by Israeli forensic specialists in Tel Aviv for proper identification.

In Israel, there is mounting frustration over the fact that Hamas has not returned all deceased hostages as stipulated in the recent ceasefire agreement. Despite these tensions, U.S. officials have lessened concerns that this signals a breach of the agreement.

On Friday, the IDF reiterated its expectation for Hamas to fully comply with the terms, urging the group to expedite the return of all hostages still unaccounted for. Hamas has claimed that it remains committed to the ceasefire and is eager to deliver all remaining bodies, yet they argue that Israeli restrictions on heavy machinery and ongoing military actions have complicated recovery efforts.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking at a memorial for victims of the October 7 attack, reiterated his commitment to recovering all deceased hostages and vowed to continue Israel’s counter-terrorism efforts with full intensity.

The recent ceasefire, which was facilitated by the U.S., also involved the release of 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,718 detainees from Gaza. Although some reports suggest Hamas is struggling to fulfill its commitments regarding the remains, U.S. advisers have indicated that they believe the group is acting in good faith in engaging with international negotiators.

While detailed terms of the agreement between Israel and Hamas remain undisclosed, leaks suggest some flexibility regarding the immediate retrieval of all bodies. The ongoing hostilities began as a result of the initial attack, which saw approximately 1,200 individuals killed and 251 taken hostage.

Since the outbreak of conflict, significant casualties have been reported on both sides, with the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza estimating over 67,000 fatalities from subsequent Israeli assaults, figures that the United Nations regards as credible. The situation remains volatile, with many families desperately seeking closure amid the chaos.