Body of Hostage Eliyahu Margalit Returned to Israel by Hamas
The body of 75-year-old Eliyahu Margalit, a kibbutz cattle breeder who was taken hostage on October 7, 2023, was returned to Israel by Hamas last night and identified by forensic experts today, ending over two years of uncertainty for his family.
Margalit, known affectionately as “Churchill,” was murdered by Hamas terrorists during the attack on Kibbutz Nir Oz, and his body was subsequently abducted. The casket containing his remains was transferred by the Red Cross from Khan Younis in southern Gaza on Friday night to Israeli Defense Forces troops, who then brought it back into Israel. Following inspection and a brief military ceremony, the remains were taken to the Abu Kabir forensic institute in Tel Aviv for identification.
“Our beloved Eli has returned home, 742 days after he was murdered and kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz,” the Margalit family said in a statement. “We thank the people of Israel and the Hostage Families Forum for their support in the long struggle for his return, and promise that we will not stop or rest until the last of the hostages is returned for burial in Israel.” The return of Margalit’s body leaves 18 bodies of deceased hostages still held in Gaza, down from 28 at the start of the current ceasefire. The ongoing hostage negotiations remain a critical factor in the broader Israel-Hamas conflict.
Margalit was a well-known figure in the Negev region, having managed the cattle herd at Kibbutz Nir Oz for decades. Friends described him as a dedicated animal lover, often prioritizing the needs of his livestock even in dangerous situations. “He wouldn’t even turn around if you called him by any other name,” said Gilad Sharon, son of the late Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, recalling their long friendship. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office issued a statement expressing condolences to the Margalit family and reaffirming Israel’s commitment to bringing back all remaining hostages.
The IDF stated it “continues to devote all efforts to the return of the fallen hostages” and called on Hamas to fulfill its obligations under the agreement to return all bodies for proper burial.
