Israel confirms reception of remains of Guy Illouz, Bipin Joshi, and two other hostages

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum subsequently responded to the news, stating, “may their memories be a blessing, together with two additional deceased hostages.”

The IDF on Tuesday confirmed the reception and has informed the families of Guy Illouz and Bipin Joshi that their remains have been brought back to Israel for burial.

The remains of the two other hostages returned Monday evening have also been identified, but their identities have not yet been cleared for publication.

The announcement follows the completion of the identification process by the National Institute of Forensic Medicine, the IDF noted. Identification was completed in collaboration with the Israel Police and the Military Rabbinate.

The IDF noted that, based on its intelligence, Illouz died from wounds that remained untreated while in Hamas captivity.

Illouz and Joshi died in Hamas captivity

According to the military, Illouz, who was 26 years old when he died, was wounded and kidnapped by Hamas after he initially escaped the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023.

Joshi, who was 23 years old, was also abducted alive, according to the IDF’s assessment. Joshi was taken from a shelter in Kibbutz Alumim, but was later murdered while in captivity in the early months of the war.

The final conclusions on the details of both deceased hostages are forthcoming pending the completion of the National Institute of Forensic Medicine’s examinations into the circumstances of their deaths.

“The IDF and the Prisoners and Missing Persons Directorate of the State of Israel express their deep condolences to the families, continue to make every effort to return all the hostages, and are preparing for the continued implementation of the agreement,” the IDF added.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum subsequently responded to the news, stating, “may their memories be a blessing, together with two additional deceased hostages.”

The forum expressed its hope that with the “grief and the understanding that their hearts will never be whole,” the news would bring “some measure of comfort to families who have lived with agonizing uncertainty and doubt for over two years.”

“In these difficult hours, our hearts are with the Illouz family, with the Joshi family, and with you, with all of you, the dear family members. The pressure on Hamas to continue and complete the return of the abductees continues and will intensify,” Coordinator for Hostages and Missing Persons Brig.-Gen. (res.) Gal Hirsch wrote to the families of the families of the Gaza hostages after the news regarding Guy Illouz and Bipin Joshi broke. “