Israel Identifies Remains of 10th Hostage Returned from Gaza as Tensions Persist Over Ceasefire Deal

Israel has confirmed that the body handed over by Hamas to the Red Cross late on Friday is that of Eliyahu “Churchill” Margalit, a 75-year-old grandfather from the Nir Oz kibbutz who was killed during the Hamas assault on southern Israel on 7 October 2023. His remains were transferred through the Red Cross as part of the ongoing ceasefire deal, which continues to face growing controversy over unfulfilled terms and accusations of non-compliance.

The Identification of Eliyahu Margalit

In a statement on Saturday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Margalit’s body had been identified by forensic experts at the National Center for Forensic Medicine in Israel, following its handover at the Gaza border. His death had already been confirmed in December 2023, but his body remained in Gaza until now.

Margalit’s family was informed immediately after the identification. The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement vowing to continue efforts to recover every Israeli hostage and the remains of those who perished.

“We will spare no effort until we return all of the fallen abductees, down to the last one,” the statement read.

Margalit, known affectionately as “Churchill,” was a horse enthusiast and a devoted grandfather of three. He was tending to his animals at Nir Oz when Hamas gunmen stormed the kibbutz during their surprise cross-border assault. His daughter, Nili Margalit, was also taken hostage that day but was later freed in a prisoner exchange deal in November 2023.

Hostage Returns Under Ceasefire Agreement

Margalit is the 10th deceased hostage Israel has recovered from Gaza, out of an estimated 28 bodies believed to still be held by Hamas. Under the terms of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement, Hamas committed to making every possible effort to locate and return the bodies of deceased hostages.

However, progress has been slow. Families of hostages have accused both Hamas and the Israeli government of failing to meet expectations. Many relatives of the deceased have staged protests, arguing that the government conceded too much in the ceasefire negotiations without ensuring the return of all bodies.

A rally is scheduled for Saturday night in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, where families plan to demand accountability and transparency.

Ruby Chen, whose son Itay Chen — a 19-year-old Israeli-American soldier — was killed in his tank and taken into Gaza on 7 October, expressed frustration at the slow progress.

“It’s human to want to move on and have a clean slate, to live a normal life again,” he said. “But we had a deal for 48 hostages. We have 29. That’s not a narrative we should accept.”

Hamas Cites Technical Difficulties

Hamas has insisted it remains committed to the ceasefire and to the return of all hostage remains but says practical challenges have hindered its ability to recover bodies. The group claims many hostages were buried under massive amounts of rubble caused by Israeli airstrikes and that it lacks access to the heavy machinery necessary for excavation.

On Friday, two bulldozers were seen in Hamad City, a residential complex in Khan Younis, digging through the debris of destroyed apartment towers in an effort to locate remains. The area had been heavily bombarded and later occupied by Israeli forces during a week-long operation in March 2024.

A Turkish delegation of forensic specialists has been waiting for Israeli authorization to enter Gaza and assist in body recovery efforts. Turkish foreign ministry officials told AFP that they hoped to begin operations by Sunday. “It remains unclear when Israel will allow the Turkish team to enter,” a senior official said, noting that the mission would focus on recovering both Palestinian and Israeli remains.

Political and Diplomatic Strain

The dispute over the recovery of hostage bodies has become a flashpoint in Israel’s domestic politics and in international diplomacy surrounding the ceasefire. Critics of Netanyahu’s government say that the deal — part of U.S. President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace framework — has failed to deliver tangible results for the families of the abducted.

At a press conference in Ankara, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned that the disagreement could threaten the stability of the ceasefire.

“Will Israel use Hamas’ incapability to locate bodies left under rubble as an excuse to break the ceasefire?” he asked. “There is concern in the international community over this.”

Israel has accused Hamas of deliberately withholding information about the hostages’ locations. Officials have warned that time is running out for the militant group to comply with its obligations. Hamas, meanwhile, argues that Israel’s ongoing control of key areas in Gaza — and its restrictions on heavy equipment — are obstructing the recovery process.

The Broader Ceasefire Context

The ceasefire, which has largely halted fighting across Gaza, is the first stage of a wider peace initiative supported by Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey. The agreement includes multiple components: returning hostages, releasing prisoners, reopening border crossings, initiating reconstruction, and setting up an interim administration in Gaza.

As part of the deal, Israel has released 250 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails and an additional 1,718 detainees from Gaza. Hamas, in return, released 20 living hostages earlier in the week.

Still, unresolved issues remain — particularly the disarmament of militant groups and the question of who will govern Gaza in the postwar phase.

Renewed Violence Threatens Fragile Calm

Despite the ceasefire, violence has not entirely ceased. Gaza’s Civil Defence Service reported on Friday that 11 people were killed when Israeli troops opened fire on a vehicle southeast of Gaza City — seven of them children and three women. Hamas accused Israel of violating the truce, while the IDF declined to comment on the incident.

Israel, for its part, has been preparing to reopen the Rafah crossing with Egypt, potentially allowing limited movement of people and humanitarian aid. However, both Israel and Hamas have traded blame for delays, each accusing the other of violating ceasefire conditions.

As the region teeters between fragile peace and renewed conflict, the return of Eliyahu Margalit’s body serves as both a moment of closure for one grieving family and a painful reminder for many others still waiting for news of their loved ones.

For the families of hostages — living and dead alike — every recovered body is both a small victory and a deep wound, underscoring the human cost of a war that has already claimed tens of thousands of lives.

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