Slain hostage returned to Israel identified as Joshua Mollel

Remains transferred to Israel by Hamas were identified as belonging to a 21-year-old Tanzanian agricultural student who was murdered on Oct. 7.

By World Israel News Staff

The remains transferred to Israel by Hamas Wednesday evening have been identified as belonging to a Tanzanian agricultural student who was murdered during the invasion of October 7, 2023.

On Thursday morning, the Prime Minister’s Office announced that the National Center of Forensic Medicine had completed the identification process for the latest body received from Gaza.

According to forensic experts, the slain hostage has been identified as Joshua Loitu Mollel, a 21-year-old Tanzanian agricultural student who was interning at the Ibim agricultural campus as part of his studies.

On the morning of Oct.7, Mollel was working in a cowshed in Kibbutz Nahal Oz when Hamas terrorists overran the town.

Hamas terrorists captured Mollel, murdered him, then took his body to the Gaza Strip, where he was held for over two years.

Israel confirmed on December 13, 2023, that Mollel had been murdered on Oct. 7.

He is survived by his parents, three sisters and a brother.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry notified Mollel’s family that his body had been positively identified.

“The Government of Israel shares in the deep sorrow of the Mollel family and all the families of the fallen hostages,” the Prime Minister’s Office said.

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“The Government and the entire establishment for the missing and the captives of the State of Israel are determined, committed, and working tirelessly to return all of our fallen hostages for proper burial in their country.”

The remains of six hostages remain in the Gaza Strip, including Hadar Goldin, an IDF soldier who was killed during the 2014 war with Hamas, and five others taken captive on October 7th, 2023.

Five of the six remaining slain hostages are Israelis.

After the return of Mollel’s remains, Sudthisak Rinthalak, a Thai citizen, is now the last foreign national held by Hamas.

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