By: Tzirel Rosenblatt

In a solemn moment of national mourning, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Sunday evening confirmed the return of the bodies of Col. Asaf Hamami, Capt. Omer Maxim Neutra, and Sgt. Oz Daniel, three Israeli soldiers killed during the Hamas-led assault of October 7, 2023. Their remains were transferred from Gaza through the Red Cross, marking a painful yet dignified step in Israel’s ongoing effort to recover both the living and the fallen.

As The Jewish News Syndicate (JNS) reported on Monday, the announcement came after the National Institute of Forensic Medicine, in cooperation with the Israel Police and the Military Rabbinate, completed an exhaustive identification process. “Following the completion of the identification process … IDF representatives informed the families of Colonel Assaf Hamami, Captain Omer Maxim Neutra, and Staff Sergeant Oz Daniel that they have been returned for burial,” the military stated.

The IDF and the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) each released statements extending “deep condolences” to the bereaved families while reaffirming Israel’s commitment to continue working “tirelessly” to bring home every remaining hostage and fallen soldier. “The government and the entire security and intelligence apparatus of the State of Israel are determined, committed, and working tirelessly to bring back all of our fallen hostages for proper burial in their homeland,” the PMO declared.

According to the JNS report, the return of the three bodies was facilitated under the terms of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas — an accord that includes provisions for the recovery of deceased hostages in exchange for humanitarian concessions. While the nation collectively mourned, the news brought a measure of closure to three families whose loved ones had been missing for over a year, their fates long uncertain.

Col. Asaf Hamami, commander of the Southern Brigade in the Gaza Division, was one of the first senior officers to engage Hamas forces during the unprecedented cross-border invasion of October 7. As the JNS report recounted, Hamami raced toward Kibbutz Nirim, one of the first communities attacked by Hamas gunmen, and was killed while defending the residents. His body was subsequently abducted to Gaza, where it remained until now.

“Assaf was among the first to reach the combat zones and to fight,” the IDF said. “He was the first to declare war.” He was 40 years old at the time of his death and is survived by his parents, brother, wife, and three children.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, cited in the JNS report, remembered Hamami as a leader defined by moral clarity and quiet strength. “He was known for his humility, integrity, creativity, and his deep ability to see each person—leading by example in the best way possible,” the Forum stated.

Within the IDF, Hamami’s reputation was that of a field commander who personified the military’s ethos of responsibility and sacrifice. The JNS report noted that his leadership during the chaotic first hours of the October 7 invasion inspired countless younger soldiers and likely saved dozens of civilian lives. His return, after thirteen months in enemy hands, brings an element of dignity to a family — and a country — that had refused to relinquish hope.

Among the fallen was Capt. Omer Maxim Neutra, a 21-year-old tank platoon commander in Battalion 77 of the Sa’ar Golan Division, whose story resonated deeply on both sides of the Atlantic. Born and raised in the United States, Neutra immigrated to Israel as a “lone soldier” through the Garin Tzabar program, an initiative that helps young Jews from the diaspora integrate into the IDF and Israeli society.

As the JNS report highlighted, Neutra’s journey from an American high school athlete to an Israeli combat officer embodied the profound bond between the Jewish diaspora and the State of Israel. He fell while defending communities along the Gaza border, his body seized by Hamas amid the chaos of that brutal morning.

Neutra’s family, who live in New York, had campaigned relentlessly for news of his fate. They now face the bittersweet closure of knowing he has finally been brought home. “Omer loved sports — soccer, basketball, volleyball — and served as captain of his school’s teams,” the Hostages and Missing Families Forum told JNS. “He was a warm, optimistic, and deeply caring person who lit up every room he walked into.”

His loss drew international attention when President Trump, returning to Washington aboard Air Force One, confirmed that he had spoken with Neutra’s parents following the repatriation of the three soldiers’ remains. “They’re thrilled in one sense, but in another sense obviously not too great,” Trump said, describing the retrieval as “so sad.” He added, “We got three bodies back today that they found, and we’re looking for the remainder of the bodies.”

Neutra’s story, as chronicled in the JNS report, became emblematic of the international solidarity that has underpinned Israel’s struggle since October 7. His service bridged continents and communities, embodying a universal sense of duty that transcends borders.

The youngest of the three, Sgt. Oz Daniel, served in the same battalion as Capt. Neutra and was only 19 years old when he fell in battle on October 7. His death was formally confirmed by Israeli authorities on February 25, 2024, after months of uncertainty.

As JNS reported, Daniel’s family had clung to hope for his survival long after his disappearance, their anguish compounded by the lack of verified information. His remains were among those returned to Israel on Sunday, offering long-awaited closure.

Friends and relatives described Daniel as a free spirit with an infectious sense of humor and an abiding love for music. “Oz loved life,” the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement cited in the JNS report, “He had a sharp sense of humor and a big, contagious smile. He was always surrounded by friends and was the one who made everyone laugh.”

Daniel was also a gifted guitarist and songwriter, who dreamed of performing before global audiences. “The love story between Oz and music began at the age of nine,” the Forum noted. “He believed music had the power to change the world.” His comrades in Battalion 77 remembered him as both a devoted soldier and an artist who carried his instrument into the barracks — a reminder, as one officer told JNS, “that joy itself is an act of defiance.”

In its coverage, JNS emphasized that the return of Hamami, Neutra, and Daniel marks both an emotional and symbolic milestone in Israel’s ongoing confrontation with Hamas. Each recovered body represents not only a family’s reunion with its loved one but also a reaffirmation of the state’s moral obligation to its soldiers and citizens.

Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office described the recovery as a solemn fulfillment of that duty. “The government and the entire security and intelligence apparatus … are working tirelessly to bring back all of our fallen hostages for proper burial,” the statement read. JNS noted that the words resonated throughout Israel, where the phrase “bringing them home” — le’hachzir otam habaita — has become a moral refrain of national identity since the war began.

Military analysts quoted in the JNS report observed that the IDF’s efforts to recover its soldiers — both living and dead — are central to its code of ethics, which holds that “no one is left behind.” The return of the three bodies, they said, signals that Israel’s mission to retrieve every hostage remains unbroken, even as the war’s human and political toll continues to mount.

Despite the progress, JNS reported that the remains of six Israeli hostages and two foreign nationals are still being held by Hamas. Under the terms of the ongoing ceasefire arrangement, Hamas is obligated to return all captives — both the living and the deceased.

Israeli officials told JNS that negotiations for the remaining bodies are continuing under the supervision of the International Committee of the Red Cross and U.S. mediators. For the families of those still missing, the return of Hamami, Neutra, and Daniel brings a bittersweet mix of sorrow and renewed hope.

The funerals of the three soldiers, held in military cemeteries across Israel, drew thousands of mourners — fellow soldiers, government officials, and civilians alike. Their names, now etched into the annals of Israeli heroism, have become symbols of courage and devotion.