Israeli hostage returned from Gaza identified as Meni Godard

“The effort to return all hostages continues without interruption and will not cease until every last hostage is brought home.”

By World Israel News Staff

The body of an Israeli hostage returned from Gaza on Thursday night has been officially identified as Meni Godard, 73, who was abducted and murdered by Hamas terrorists on October 7 during the attack on Kibbutz Be’eri. His wife, Ayelet, was also killed during the assault. The couple is survived by four children and six grandchildren.

The body was transferred to Israeli authorities via the Red Cross, with Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad coordinating the handover to IDF forces and the Shin Bet.

Upon arrival in Israel, the coffin was received in a military ceremony attended by the IDF Chief Rabbi before being transported to the National Center of Forensic Medicine for official identification. The process confirmed that the remains were indeed Godard’s, and the family was immediately notified.

In an earlier statement, the Prime Minister’s Office said, “Israel has received, through the Red Cross, the body of a fallen hostage. The effort to return all hostages continues without interruption and will not cease until every last hostage is brought home. Our hearts are with the families of the deceased at this difficult hour.”

Earlier Thursday, Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad had announced they would hand over a deceased hostage at 8:00 p.m., claiming the body had been discovered in the Morg axis area north of Khan Younis.

Despite the return of Godard’s body, the terrorist organizations continue to hold two other deceased Israeli hostages and one hostage from Thailand, in clear violation of the ceasefire agreement.