TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) - Israel has confirmed the identification of two more hostages who were killed during the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. The Prime Minister's office announced on Wednesday that the deceased hostages were Arie Zalmanovich and Tamir Adar. Their remains were returned to Israel and transported by the Red Cross. The identification follows the tragic events that unfolded during the attack that initiated the ongoing war.
The bodies of Zalmanovich and Adar were found at Kibbutz Nir Oz, where they were killed amid the chaos of the Hamas assault. Since the ceasefire began on October 10, a total of 15 hostages' remains have been returned to Israel. However, authorities report that another 13 hostages still need to be recovered from Gaza, marking an essential component of the ceasefire agreement.
In a related context, a burial ceremony for 54 Palestinians is scheduled to take place on the same day at a cemetery in Deir al-Balah, Gaza. These bodies were displayed outside Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis before burial. A senior health official in Gaza has indicated that some of these bodies showed signs of torture, prompting a call for investigation into their origins. Israel has not provided information regarding these deceased individuals, which could include Palestinians who died during the October 7 attacks or those who were detained. So far, 52 of the returned bodies have been identified by authorities in Gaza.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance is currently engaged in high-level discussions in Israel to promote the fragile ceasefire agreement, meeting with key Israeli leaders including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog. Alongside him are U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, former President Donald Trump's son-in-law. They acknowledged on Tuesday that while the ceasefire has exceeded initial expectations, there has been an increase in violence in recent days.
Discussions continue regarding the peace plan, focusing on crucial issues such as disarming Hamas and establishing an international security force in Gaza. Vance mentioned that officials are considering contributions from countries like Turkey and Indonesia for the envisioned security force. Britain is also participating by sending a small contingent of military officers to help monitor the ongoing ceasefire.
In a separate incident, the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme, a prominent Palestinian NGO, reported an “armed raid and brutal takeover” of one of its facilities in Gaza City on October 13. The organization claims that an armed group seized the building, expelled guards, and took control of the premises. In their statement, they condemned the incident as a severe violation of laws and norms, calling for immediate intervention from Palestinian authorities and countries supporting the ceasefire.
Additionally, Israelis arranged to honor a Thai farm worker, Sonthaya Oakkharasri, who was killed during the Hamas attack. His remains were returned from Gaza last weekend, and a farewell gathering will be held at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. Oakkharasri is remembered as a dedicated father and farmer with dreams of establishing his own farm.
The broader context of the war indicates that the October 7 attack resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths, predominantly among civilians, and led to the abduction of 251 hostages. The ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict has further escalated, resulting in over 68,000 Palestinian fatalities, according to data from Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between combatants and civilians in its casualty reports. Israel has disputed these figures but has not provided alternative statistics.
