Multiple Hostages' Remains Returned, Including Ronen Engel

Israel has received remains returned from Gaza and forensic teams at the Abu Kabir National Forensic Institute are working to identify them and determine causes of death. Authorities and the Prime Minister’s Office named slain hostages returned as Ronen Engel (54) and Tamir Adar (38), both residents of Kibbutz Nir Oz killed during the Oct. 7, 2023 assault, and Arie “Zalman” Zalmanowicz (85), whose date of death is listed as Nov. 17, 2023 and who, a rescued hostage said, died in a Gaza hospital from lack of treatment, malnutrition and neglect. Other returned remains remain under identification or await family clearance for publication. Families and the Hostages and Missing Families Forum expressed relief mixed with grief — Engel’s daughter said her father was 'finally home' — and reiterated calls to continue efforts to recover the remaining hostages. Mediators briefed by the U.S. State Department warned of credible reports of a planned Hamas attack that would violate the cease-fire, the Rafah crossing was slated to open for sick and wounded transfers, and tensions persisted with protests and renewed clashes in the West Bank.