Israel announced on Thursday that it had taken possession of the body of Inbar Hayman, identified as the last female hostage still held in Gaza.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that their intelligence indicated Hayman was killed at the Nova festival during the October 7, 2023, attacks, and her body was subsequently transported into Gaza. She was officially declared deceased on December 15, 2023. Hayman was 27 years old at the time of her passing. She is survived by her parents and brother.
Following the public identification of her body, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum issued a statement from Hayman’s family.
“This is an indescribable feeling, a mix of joy and profound sorrow. Now, Inbar will finally receive the rest and honor she so truly deserves. We are certain that if Inbar were with us today, she would implore us to continue the fight for all 19 of her fellow hostages who remain in captivity,” Hayman’s family conveyed.
“Our Inbar, a remarkable individual, served as a commander in the Caracal Battalion for three years. We salute you and urge the entire public to come and pay their respects. A hero of Israel,” the family further added.
Hayman was known as PINK, a gifted graffiti artist. Her family is requesting that the public wear pink to her funeral and has even distributed her funeral details in pink lettering, departing from the customary black text.
In Israel, funerals for hostages and fallen soldiers are frequently open to the public.
The remains of Sgt. Maj. Muhammad Al-Atresh were also handed over to Israel on Thursday. Al-Atresh served as an IDF tracker, a role almost exclusively held by , according to The Times of Israel.
Like Hayman, Al-Atresh was killed during the October 7 massacre, and his body was taken hostage into Gaza. Israel declared Al-Atresh deceased on June 24, 2024. As per the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, Al-Atresh leaves behind his parents, nine brothers, 13 sisters, two wives, and 13 children.
Both the IDF and the Israeli Prime Minister’s office called upon Hamas to fulfill its obligation to return all deceased hostages.
Following the return of Hayman’s and Al-Atresh’s remains, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum reiterated its demand for the repatriation of all deceased hostages’ remains. So far, in addition to Hayman and Al-Atresh, the remains of Staff Sgt. Tamir Nimrodi, Uriel Baruch, Eitan Levi, Yossi Sharabi, Cpt. Daniel Peretz, Bipin Joshi, and Guy Iluz have been returned to Israel.
The remains of 19 deceased hostages are still in Gaza, including U.S. citizens Itay Chen, 19, and Omer Neutra, 21. One of the bodies in Gaza is that of Hadar Goldin, who was killed in 2014. His mother, Leah, has been fighting for over a decade to provide her son with a proper burial.