Bodies of Slain Hostages Aryeh Zalmenovitz and Tamir Hadar Returned to Israel.

The bodies of slain Hostages Aryeh Zalmenovitz, hy”d, and Tamir Hadar, hy”d, were returned to Israel tonight, Israel’s Prime Minister’s office announced early Wednesday morning.

Zalmanovitz, 85 at the time of his murder, was kidnapped alive from his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz and filmed being beaten on a motorcycle, surrounded by evil Hamas terrorists, en route to Gaza. The Prime Minister’s office said that, “It is assessed that Zalmanavitz, hy”d, was murdered in captivity on November 17, 2023.”

Tamir Hadar hy”d served as a deputy security coordinator, and emergency squad member of Kibbutz Nir Oz. Tamir was murdered on the morning of October 7, while risking his life to defend the kibbutz and its residents.

Tamir was 38 at the time of his death. He left behind his wife, two children, parents, and three siblings.

There are 13 hostages left in Gaza.

Israel PMO Announces Return and Identification of Hostage Aryeh Zalmanovitz’s Body:

The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement that the body of Aryeh (Zalman) Zalmanovitz, hy”d, has been returned to Israel “following the completion of the identification process by the National Institute of Forensic Medicine, in cooperation with the Israel Police and the Military Rabbinate, IDF representatives informed the family of hostage Aryeh (Zalman) Zalmanovitz, z”l, and the family of another slain hostage that their loved ones have been returned to Israel and identified,” the PMO stated.

The IDF released this statement about Hadar; “Following the completion of the identification process by the National Center of Forensic Medicine in collaboration with the Israel Police and the Military Rabbinate, representatives of the IDF notified the family of the abducted Sgt. Maj. (res.) Tamir Adar z”l that their loved one has been returned for burial.

According to the information and intelligence available to us, Sgt. Maj. (res.) Tamir Adar z”l, deputy chief security coordinator and member of the emergency squad at Nir Oz, fell in the battle to defend the kibbutz on the morning of October 7, 2023, and his body was abducted by the terrorist organization Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Tamir z”l, aged 38 at the time of his falling, was declared dead on 04/01/2024. He is survived by his wife and two children, parents, two brothers, and a sister.
His grandmother, Yaffa Adar, was also abducted and returned in the “Gates of Heaven” deal in November 2023.

The IDF shares in the family’s grief, continues to invest all efforts in returning the abducted fallen, and is preparing to continue implementing the agreement.

Hamas is required to fulfill its part in the agreement and make all necessary efforts to return the abducted fallen to their families for a proper burial.”

Yehi Zichram Baruch