Rotem Cooper, the son of Israeli hostage Amiram Cooper, has declared that the struggle is far from over after his father’s body was not among those returned in a recent hostage release deal. Despite the successful release of 20 living hostages, only four out of 28 deceased hostages were handed over, leaving families in profound disappointment and calling for sustained international pressure on Hamas to fulfill the agreement.
The ceasefire and hostage release agreement, brokered with mediation from the United States, Qatar, and Egypt, mandated that all remaining hostages in Gaza be returned by noon on Monday, in exchange for Israel releasing nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. This included both living individuals and the bodies of those who had died during their captivity, with the accord acknowledging potential difficulties in locating all remains by the deadline.
On Monday, the 20 living hostages were freed and reunited with their families at the Re’im military base in southern Israel, eliciting scenes of relief and joy among onlookers. However, the return of just four deceased hostages—identified as Guy Illouz, Bipin Joshi, Yossi Sharabi, and Daniel Peretz—fell drastically short of expectations, as families had anticipated 15 to 20 bodies would be repatriated, intensifying their grief and frustration.
Rotem Cooper, whose parents were abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz during the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023, described the emotional whiplash of the day as a “big rollercoaster.” He experienced “tremendous anticipation” and “big relief” witnessing the living hostages’ return, but the prospect of receiving bodies was “heartbreaking.” His mother was released later in October 2023, but Amiram was killed in captivity, with the Israel Defense Forces still examining the circumstances amid Hamas’s claim that he died in an Israeli strike.
Other affected families echoed this dismay, including Ruby Chen, whose son Itay’s body also remains in Gaza. Chen expressed being “overjoyed” for the freed living hostages but “very disappointed” by the limited return of deceased individuals, urging the Israeli government, U.S. leaders, and mediators to intensify pressure on Hamas to comply with the signed agreement and secure the release of all remaining bodies.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, representing many relatives, has demanded a “very serious response” from Israeli authorities and international mediators, condemning what it describes as Hamas’s violation of the accord. The forum insists that subsequent phases of the peace plan should not advance until all bodies are returned, emphasizing the need for closure and accountability in the process.
Families like the Coopers believe Hamas could have released more bodies and accuse the group of “playing games,” a sentiment that has galvanized calls for robust diplomatic efforts to enforce the agreement’s terms. This stance is rooted in the understanding that the return of remains is crucial for emotional healing and justice, beyond the immediate political ramifications.
With the four returned bodies identified through forensic tests and reburied, some families have found a measure of solace, but for the 24 others awaiting repatriation, the uncertainty persists. Rotem Cooper stressed that recovering his father’s body would provide “some closure” and allow him to “sleep better at night,” as his life has felt suspended during this prolonged ordeal.
This situation highlights the enduring human cost of the Israel-Gaza conflict, with hostage families advocating for unwavering international engagement to ensure all remains are returned. Their resolve to “continue the fight” underscores the broader challenges in achieving lasting peace, where personal tragedies remain intertwined with complex geopolitical negotiations.