Israel identifies remains of an additional hostage

Israeli officials have confirmed the identity of Eliyahu Margalit, a 76-year-old man kidnapped during the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023 , as one of the hostages whose remains were recently returned. 

The announcement came as the Palestinian death toll surpassed 68,000, largely due to continued recovery efforts beneath the rubble.

Margalit, who was taken from the horse stables at Kibbutz Nir Oz where he worked, was identified through forensic testing by Israel’s National Center for Forensic Medicine. His family has been notified, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office that was released on Saturday.

He is the tenth hostage confirmed to have been returned since the current ceasefire began more than one week ago. An eleventh body was also handed over by Hamas in recent days, though officials determined it did not belong to any of the known hostages.

U.S. President Donald Trump had warned Hamas, saying he would support Israel in resuming military operations if the group fails to comply with the peace agreement to return all hostages’ bodies. A total of 28 individuals are still believed to be unaccounted for as of Saturday morning.

In response to Margalit’s return, a support group representing the families of those kidnapped issued a statement welcoming the return of Margalit’s remains as a source of closure, but they emphasized their campaign would continue until all hostages and their remains are brought home.