The latest hostage remains returned from Gaza are of an Israeli man killed at the start of war

The latest hostage remains returned from Gaza are of an Israeli man killed at the start of the war

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli authorities announced on Saturday that the remains of a hostage repatriated from Gaza the previous night have been identified as those of Lior Rudaeff, an Israeli citizen who died during Hamas’s assault on October 7, 2023, which ignited the war.

The recovery and identification of his body represent another step in the fragile ceasefire mediated by the United States.

Identity and Background

According to a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, the body belongs to Lior Rudaeff. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said Rudaeff was born in Argentina and later settled in Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak, a southern Israeli farming community. He had volunteered as an ambulance driver for over four decades and was part of the community’s emergency response team.

“He was killed during Hamas’s assault, and his body was taken to Gaza,” the Forum stated.

Ceasefire and Exchange Details

Since the ceasefire began on October 10, Palestinian militants have released the remains of 23 hostages, including Rudaeff. Five Israeli hostages are still unaccounted for in Gaza. In return, Israel has repatriated the remains of 15 Palestinians for each Israeli hostage, totaling 285 bodies to date, according to the Red Cross and Gaza’s Health Ministry.

Gaza health officials have reported difficulties in identifying the bodies due to a lack of DNA testing equipment. So far, 84 of the returned Palestinian bodies have been identified.

Under the terms of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire, Israel has agreed to permit significantly more humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Author’s Summary

The return of Lior Rudaeff’s remains underscores both the human cost of the conflict and the fragile progress in ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Gaza factions.

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WRAL WRAL — 2025-11-08

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