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Israel announced on Saturday that the latest remains handed over by Hamas through the Red Cross were those of a dead hostage.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) identified the deceased hostage as Eliyahu Margalit, known to many as “Churchill”, who was murdered during the October 7, 2023 attacks. It also underlined that “Hamas must fulfill its part of the agreement and make the necessary efforts to return all hostages to their families and provide dignified burials.”
Israel said that Margalit was killed in a horse stable in Kibbutz Nir Oz and that his body was taken to Gaza, where it was held for more than two years. The IDF initially confirmed Margalit’s death in December 2023.
Margalit’s daughter, Nili Margalit, was also taken hostage, but was released during the brief November 2023 ceasefire. He leaves behind his wife, three children and grandchildren.
Remains of last woman and IDF soldier held hostage by Hamas handed over to Israel
Eliyahu Margalit, 75, was killed in the massacre on October 7, 2023, and his body was taken to Gaza, where it remained until October 18, 2025. (Hostage and Missing Families Forum)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement, “The Israeli government joins the Margalit family in its deep sorrow and all the families of the murdered abductees.” “The government and the entire Israeli Public Security Bureau are committed, dedicated and working tirelessly to provide all our abducted people with a proper burial in their country.”
According to The Times of Israel, Margalit’s loved ones said that he had gone to feed his beloved horses early in the morning on October 7 and took the horses with him. The outlet said Margalit was responsible for the kibbutz’s cattle for several years.
According to The Times of Israel, the family said in a statement, “Our beloved Eli has returned home 742 days after he was murdered and kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz. 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 to Israel for burial.”
Protesters stand near portraits of Israeli hostages Eliyahu Margalit, Eli Sharabi, Nimron Cohen and others during a demonstration led by families of hostages captured in the Gaza Strip by Palestinian terrorists during the October 7, 2023 attacks, outside the residence of the Israeli Prime Minister on Aza (Gaza) Street in central Jerusalem on October 24, 2024. (Ahmad Gharbali/AFP via Getty Images)
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The Forum of Hostages and Missing Families, which was established in the wake of the October 7 massacre, expressed condolences to Margalit’s family.
“The families of the hostages and those released have embraced the family of Eliyahu ‘Churchill’ Margalit at this difficult time, following his return to Israel last night for a proper funeral for their beloved Eliyahu Z”L,” the forum wrote. “We will not rest until all 18 hostages are brought home.”
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers salute the coffin of Eliyahu Margalit, which has been draped in the Israeli flag. (IDF Spokesperson Unit)
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The forum said Margalit was “a cowboy at heart” and was involved with the organization “Riders of the South”, which has been bringing together horse riding enthusiasts for more than 50 years.
Margalit is the 10th dead hostage to be returned to Israel, while the remains of 18 others are still in Gaza. The two dead hostages whose bodies have not been returned are Itay Chen, 19, and Omar Neutra, 21, both US citizens.
