Israel Gets Hostage Meny Godard’s Body From Gaza Militants
Meny Godard’s body was taken from Gaza by Israel and sent through the Red Cross.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stated Thursday that Israel had retrieved the body of captured captive Meny Godard following its transfer from Gaza by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
The Hamas-led strike on October 7, 2023, killed Godard, a 73-year-old inhabitant of a kibbutz close to the Gaza border. Although his remains had been kept in Gaza since the attack, his death was formally confirmed two months later.
Though Israeli officials claimed they were not given any official warning prior to the transfer, the armed wings of Hamas and Islamic Jihad earlier in the day declared plans to turn over the body at 8 p.m. local time.
Three hours after the remains were brought to Israel for forensic analysis, they were determined to be those of Godard. Three more hostages’ bodies are still being held in Gaza, according to Israeli authorities.
Netanyahu’s office released a statement saying, “The Government and the entire establishment for the missing and the captives of the State of Israel are determined, committed, and working tirelessly to return all of our fallen hostages for proper burial in their country.”
The body of Godard was found near Khan Younis, a city in southern Gaza that has undergone heavy combat, according to Islamic Jihad.
The homecoming follows a truce deal in October wherein Hamas released the last 20 hostages in exchange for about 2,000 Palestinian inmates and wartime detainees. The agreement also provided for the exchange of remains, with the bodies of 360 militants being exchanged for 28 Israeli prisoners.
