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Courtesy Hostages and Missing Families Forum/TPS-IL on 26 February, 2025
Hamas-Aligned Terror Group to Release Remains of French-Israeli Hostage
Jerusalem, 26 February, 2025 (TPS-IL) -- The Hamas-aligned Al-Nasser Salah al-Deen Brigades said on Wednesday they will release the remains of French-Israeli national Ohad Yahalomi.
Yahalomi, who would be 50, was abducted with his 12-year-old son, Eitan, from their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz. When the door to the safe room didn’t close properly, Yahalomi sat with a handgun to protect his family.
Eitan was freed during a temporary ceasefire in November 2023. Ohad was last seen in a Hamas propaganda video released in January 2024. Yahalomi is survived by his wife, Bat Sheva, and three children.
Yahalomi one of four bodies due to be released by Hamas in the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal.
Also set to be released are the remains of Israeli-Danish national Itzik Elgarat, Iraqi native Shlomo Mansour, and Tsahi Idan, also of Nir Oz.
After the bodies of the four are positively identified and causes of death determined, Israel will begin releasing 602 imprisoned Palestinian terrorists. The bodies will apparently be transferred to Israel via Egypt, but it wasn’t clear if the handover will take place on Wednesday or Thursday.
The return of the four would mark the conclusion of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement. The fate of the remaining 59 hostages would be determined by negotiations. Critics say the phased approach condemns them to open-ended captivity and undermines Israel’s war gains.
At least 1,200 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas’s attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 63 remaining hostages, 36 are believed to be dead.
