Remains of two hostages, Inbar Haiman & Muhammad al-Atrash, returned to Israel by Hamas

After receiving the remains of two additional hostages on Wednesday night, Israeli authorities announced the return of the bodies of Inbar Haiman and Sgt. Maj. Muhammad el-Atrash.

The Prime Minister’s Office announced their identification in a statement on Thursday morning. 

“Following the completion of the identification process by the National Center of Forensic Medicine, in cooperation with the Israel Police and the IDF Rabbinate, IDF representatives informed the families of hostages Inbar Haiman, and Warrant Officer Muhammad el-Atrash, of blessed memory, may G-d avenge them, that their loved ones had been returned to Israel and their identification had been completed.” 

“The Government of Israel shares in the deep sorrow of the Haiman and el-Atrash families and all the families of the fallen hostages,” the PMO continued. “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.” 

While Inbar Haiman’s death was announced in December 2023, after confirmation by IDF intelligence, el-Atrash was only pronounced dead in June 2024. 

According to the information and intelligence available to the IDF, Sergeant Major Muhammad el-Atrash, from the Sa’wa el-Atrash Bedouin tribe, served as a scout in the Northern Brigade in the Gaza Strip and fell in battle on the morning of Oct. 7. His body was kidnapped by Hamas.

He is survived by his parents, siblings, two wives, and 13 children, the youngest of whom was around two months old when he was killed. 

Muhammad’s brother, Nimer, told Maariv, “The funeral will be according to Bedouin custom and military custom. It's closing a circle for Muhammad and for us. At least he has a grave. He was a brave man, even in the tribe, he was a man of responsibility and family. He was a leader. The whole family used to consult with him, as an eldest brother. The circle is finally closed. The last two years have been difficult for us, sometimes we didn't know if he was alive or dead. Bringing him to be buried closes the circle.” 

Another brother, Salem, said that he only believed Muhammad had died after the IDF showed him video, recorded by security cameras at the base where Muhammad served, in which the fight with the terrorists could be seen. 

Muhammad’s family described him as a dedicated man who cared for his whole family and also had a love for animals. He loved raising horses and dreamed of establishing a horse farm and a petting zoo with sheep and goats, they told Israel Hayom.  

In a statement, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said, “The families of the hostages embrace at this time the Haiman and el-Atrash families, whose loved ones, Inbar and Muhammad, were brought back to Israel yesterday for proper burial. Amid the sorrow and the understanding that the heart will never be whole, the return of Inbar and Muhammad offers a degree of solace to families who have lived in agonizing uncertainty for over two years. We will not rest and we will not stop until all (the remaining)19 hostages are brought home.” 

The funeral of Sgt. Maj. Muhammad el-Atrash is expected to take place on Thursday at 1:00 p.m. in the Bedouin community of Sa’wa in southern Israel. 

So far, the remains of nine people were turned over to Israel by Hamas, and the terror group has said that reaching the remains of the other hostages “requires great effort and special equipment.” 

On Wednesday, Axios reported that Israeli officials shared intelligence with the United States, indicating that Hamas has access to more hostage remains than it has released.

According to that report, Israel claimed the Gaza deal cannot proceed to the next phase until Hamas makes “maximum effort” to recover the bodies.