The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia joins the people of Israel in mourning and remembering the lives of the 15 hostages whose bodies were returned from Gaza over the past two weeks.

We continue to stand in solidarity with Israel and the families of all the hostages, including those whose loved ones have been denied a proper burial for 752 days, and hope that these repatriations can bring them comfort. The profound level of loss and sacrifice has touched so many communities around the world – Jewish and non-Jewish, Israeli and non-Israeli. We honor them all.

We also pray for the speedy return of the remaining 13 hostages whose bodies are still being held in Gaza. At the same time, we are outraged that Hamas continues to stall the return of all deceased hostages and in one case handed over remains that did not belong to a hostage, directly violating the U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement. We will not stop advocating until the last hostage is given the right to a dignified burial in their homeland, and their family given a semblance of peace.

We remember, in order of release:

• Daniel Peretz, 22: an immigrant from South Africa, Cpt. Peretz was serving as a tank commander in IDF 7th Armored Brigade’s 77th Battalion and killed battling Hamas terrorists on October 7
  
• Bipin Joshi, 22: an agricultural student from Nepal, Bipin had come to Israel as part of an international agricultural training program under Mashav, Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation. He deflected a grenade during the October 7 Hamas attack, saving numerous lives before he was taken hostage. He was killed in captivity in Gaza
  
• Guy Illouz, 26: originally from Ra’anana, Guy was wounded and kidnapped by Hamas terrorists while trying to flee the Nova music festival on October 7. He later died in a Gaza hospital, reportedly due to a lack of medical treatment
  
• Yossi Sharabi, 53: a resident of Kibbutz Be’eri and the marketing director for the Be’eri printing house, Yossi was taken hostage alive on October 7 and later killed in Hamas captivity. He leaves behind his wife, Nira, and three daughters, Yuval, Ofir, and Oren
  
• Tamir Nimrodi, 18: an IDF soldier serving in COGAT’s Coordination and Liaison Administration to the Gaza Strip, Tamir was kidnapped alive from his base and killed in captivity at the start of the war
  
• Inbar Hayman, 27: the last female who remained captive in Gaza, Inbar was killed by Hamas terrorists on October 7 as she fought back against their attempts to take her captive. She had been working at the Nova festival helping partygoers who were intoxicated or in distress
  
• Uriel Baruch, 35: killed by Hamas terrorists on October 7 while trying to flee from the Nova music festival, Uriel’s body was kidnapped to Gaza. He leaves behind his wife, Racheli, and two sons, Shalev and Ofek
  
• Muhammad Al-Atrash, 39: a Bedouin tracker in the IDF, Muhammad was killed while fighting Hamas terrorists around Kibbutz Nahal Oz on October 7. He leaves behind two wives and 13 children
  
• Eitan Levy, 53: a cab driver, Eitan was murdered by Hamas terrorists near Mefalsim after dropping off a passenger in Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7. He leaves behind his fiancée, Shir, and son Shahar
  
• Eliyahu Margalit, 75: the former head of the Kibbutz Nir Oz cattle branch, Eliyahu was murdered by Hamas terrorists on October 7 while tending to his horses. He leaves behind his wife, Daphna, children Noa, Danny, and Nili, and three grandchildren
  
• Sonthaya Oakkharasri, 30: a farmer working near Kibbutz Be’eri, Sonthaya was from Thailand and leaves behind a seven-year-old daughter
  
• Ronen Engel, 54: a volunteer medic in Kibbutz Nir Oz, Ronen was murdered by Hamas terrorists on October 7 and his body kidnapped to Gaza. His wife, Karina, and daughters Mika and Yuval were taken as live hostages and released in November 2023
  
• Tal Haimi, 41: a member of the Kibbutz Nir Oz emergency squad, Tal was killed while defending the Kibbutz from Hamas terrorists. His wife, Ela, gave birth to their fourth child while his body remained in captivity 10/20
  
• Tamir Adar, 38: a resident of Kibbutz Nir Oz, Tamir was killed while fighting Hamas terrorists on October 7
  
• Arie Zalmanowicz, 85: a founding member of Kibbutz Nir Oz, Arie was kidnapped alive and murdered in captivity in November 2023 

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About the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia

Since 1901, the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia has served as the hub of the region’s Jewish communities, providing an infrastructure of support for Jewish people and organizations in need. Through grants, emergency funding, restricted gifts, endowments, and our partnership with the Foundation for Jewish Day Schools, we annually invest in caring for those in need, combating antisemitism and global crisis, and securing a vibrant Jewish future. For more information, please visit: jewishphilly.org.