The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced this morning, October 15th, 2025, that following forensic identification, the remains of three kidnapped individuals—Tamir Nimrodi, Uriel Baruch Zal, and Eitan Levi Zal—have been confirmed returned for burial. Nimrodi was kidnapped alive from a coordination base near the Gaza Division by Hamas and is estimated to have been killed in captivity early in the war, according to the IDF. Baruch Zal and Levy Zal were murdered by Hamas on October 7th, 2023, and their bodies were taken to Gaza. Tamir Nimrodi, who was 18 at the time of his abduction and would have turned 19 shortly after, served in the Coordination and Liaison Administration to the Gaza Strip, facilitating humanitarian aid. His family confirmed his body was identified after 739 days in Hamas captivity, having watched footage of him being led into Gaza alive. Uriel Baruch Zal, 35, was kidnapped after escaping the Nova Festival, and his death was determined on March 26th, 2024. Eitan Levi Zal, 53, was kidnapped from levels and his death was determined on December 8th, 2023. All three left behind grieving families. The IDF stated that the identification process is ongoing and that they continue to invest all efforts in the return of abductees and are preparing to continue the realization of the agreement. Hamas is required to fulfill its part of the agreement and make the necessary efforts to return the abductees to their families for proper burial. This development follows earlier reports on October 15th, 2025, detailing President Donald Trump's warning of forceful disarmament for Hamas if they do not disarm, and the condemnation of Hamas actions by Palestinian Authority Security Forces spokesperson Anwar Rajab.
