On a somber note, Israel recently announced the return of Inbar Hayman’s body, marking the end of a tragic chapter for the last female hostage in Gaza.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) revealed that intelligence suggested Inbar Hayman was killed during the attacks at the Nova festival on October 7, 2023. Her remains were taken into Gaza, and she was officially declared deceased on December 15, 2023. At the time of her death, Inbar was 27 years old, leaving behind her grieving parents and brother.

Following the identification of her body, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum shared a poignant message from her family. “This is a feeling that cannot be described, joy mingled with profound sadness. Now Inbar will receive the rest and honor she so deeply deserves. We are certain that if Inbar were here with us today, she would urge us to continue fighting for all 19 of her fellow hostages who remain in captivity,” the statement read.

Inbar Hayman’s return to Israel closes a painful chapter, as her remains, the last of the female hostages in Gaza, were finally received by her homeland. Her family and the nation continue to hope for the return of the other captives.

The remains of Inbar Hayman, the last female hostage in Gaza, were returned to Israel on Thursday. (The Hostages and Missing Families Forum)

“Our Inbar, salt of the earth, served as a commander in the Caracal Battalion for three years. We salute you and ask the entire public to come and honor you. A hero of Israel,” the family added.

Hayman was known as PINK, a talented graffiti artist. Her family is asking the public to wear pink to her funeral and even put out her funeral information in pink writing as opposed to the traditional black lettering.

In Israel, the funerals of hostages and deceased soldiers are often open to the public.

Protesters hold a cutout poster of slain Israeli hostage Inbar Hayman as they block the Ayalon access road to Tel Aviv, Israel, on Aug. 17, 2025. (Itay Cohen/Reuters)

The body of Sgt. Maj. Muhammad Al-Atresh was also delivered to Israel on Thursday. Al-Atresh served as an IDF tracker, a position that is almost exclusively held by Bedouin Israelis, according to The Times of Israel.

Like Hayman, Al-Atresh was killed during the Oct. 7 massacre and his body was taken hostage in Gaza. Israel declared Al-Atresh deceased on June 24, 2024. Al-Atresh leaves behind his parents, nine brothers, 13 sisters, two wives and 13 children, according to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.

Both the IDF and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office called on Hamas to fulfill its obligation to turn over all deceased hostages.

A woman reacts as the community of Kibbutz Kfar Aza commemorates their members who were killed, taken hostage and who died in captivity, following the deadly Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas, in southern Israel on Oct. 16, 2025. (Hannah McKay/Reuters)

Following the release of Hayman and Altresh’s remains, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum repeated its call for Hamas to return all the deceased hostages’ remains. So far, in addition to Hayman and Al-Atresh, the remains of Staff Sgt. Tamir Nimrodi, Uriel Baruch, Eitan Levi, Yossi Sharabi, Cpt. Daniel Peretz, Bipin Joshi and Guy Iluz have been returned to Israel.

The remains of 19 deceased hostages remain in Gaza, including U.S. citizens Itay Chen, 19, and Omer Neutra, 21. One of the bodies in Gaza is that of Hadar Goldin, who was killed in 2014. His mother, Leah, has been fighting for more than a decade to give her son a proper burial.