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The bodies of three slain hostages were returned to Israel and identified as Asaf Hamami, Omer Neutra, and Oz Daniel. All three were IDF soldiers, and Omer Neutra was an American citizen who was born and raised on Long Island, NY, and made aliyah in 2020. Several deceased hostages remain in Gaza as phase one of the hostage release and ceasefire between Israel and Hamas continues.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the IDF to launch “immediate and powerful strikes” against Hamas in the Gaza Strip following recent ceasefire violations, including attacks on Israeli troops that killed one soldier, and the handling of hostages’ remains. The escalation comes amid rising Israeli anger over what officials describe as repeated breaches of the ceasefire agreement by Hamas.

Five former Israeli hostages—Segev Kalfon, Bar Kuperstein, Eitan Mor, Evyatar David, and Guy Gilboa-Dalal—were discharged from hospitals and received jubilant welcomes upon returning to their homes after over two years in Hamas captivity. Kalfon, 26, was greeted by well-wishers in Dimona, where banners reading “Segev, it’s so good that you’ve come home” were displayed. The hostages had been tortured, starved, and isolated during their time in captivity.

Two Israeli soldiers — Major Yaniv Kula, 26, and Staff Sergeant Itay Yavetz, 21 — were killed and three others wounded in an attack by a Hamas cell that emerged from a tunnel in the eastern Rafah area of the Gaza Strip, threatening the current ceasefire agreement. In retaliation, the IDF launched a wave of strikes across southern and central Gaza targeting a major tunnel network used by Hamas.

In accordance with phase one of the ongoing hostage release and ceasefire agreement, Hamas released the bodies of five additional deceased hostages: Eitan Levy, Tamir Nimrodi, Uriel Baruch, Muhammad Al-Atresh, and Inbar Hayman, the last female hostage being held. In response to the delays in deceased hostage releases, Israel has postponed the reopening of the Rafah Crossing.

Crowds in Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square and Jewish communities around the world celebrated as the final 20 living hostages were released by Hamas and reunited with their families after more than two years in captivity. The hostage release was part of phase one of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, which also included the release of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and the withdrawal of Israel troops from many parts of Gaza.