Israeli Hostage’s Remains Returned from Gaza
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli authorities confirmed that the remains of a hostage returned from Gaza on Friday night belong to an Israeli man who was killed while defending against Hamas during the October 7, 2023 attacks that initiated the war.
The Prime Minister’s Office identified the body as that of Lior Rudaeff. His identification marked another step toward the fragile U.S.-brokered ceasefire.
Life and Service of Lior Rudaeff
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum stated that Rudaeff was born in Argentina and later moved to Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak in southern Israel. He had served his community for more than four decades as a volunteer ambulance driver and a member of its emergency response team.
“He was killed in the Hamas-led assault, and his body was taken into Gaza,” the forum said.
Hostage and Remains Exchange
Since the ceasefire began on October 10, Palestinian militants have released the remains of 23 hostages, including Rudaeff’s. Five hostages’ bodies are still believed to remain in Gaza. Under the exchange terms, Israel returned the remains of 15 Palestinians for each Israeli hostage.
According to the Red Cross and Gaza’s Health Ministry, Israel has so far handed over 285 Palestinian bodies. Health officials in Gaza have struggled to identify them because of limited access to DNA testing and have been able to confirm the identities of 84 individuals.
Ceasefire and Humanitarian Conditions
Under the U.S.-mediated ceasefire agreement, Israel is also expected to facilitate greater humanitarian aid deliveries into Gaza, addressing severe shortages caused by months of conflict.
Author’s summary: The recovery of Lior Rudaeff’s remains highlights both Israel’s ongoing hostage return efforts and the delicate state of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire with Gaza.