Israel Identifies Body of Heroic Photographer Killed by Hamas

Israel has confirmed the identity of one of the two bodies returned by Hamas over the weekend. The deceased, identified as Ronen Tommy Engel, was a 54-year-old photographer and a father of three. Engel was killed on October 7, 2023, while defending his family during an attack on their home in the kibbutz Nir Oz, located near the Gaza border.

According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Engel was shot by Hamas militants, who subsequently took his body into Gaza. The IDF announced his identification through its Telegram channel on Sunday. Engel’s family suffered further tragedy as his wife and two daughters were abducted during the same assault and taken to Gaza. They were subsequently released in a hostage agreement in November 2023.

Engel’s body was pronounced dead on December 1, 2023, but Hamas withheld it until a recent ceasefire agreement. This agreement facilitated the return of Israeli hostages and the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.

The second body returned alongside Engel’s has been reported to be identified by Israeli media, but its identity has not yet been disclosed. This development leaves a total of 16 bodies from the original 28 that Hamas has agreed to hand over as part of the ongoing ceasefire agreement still in Gaza.

Hamas has claimed that locating the remaining bodies is challenging due to extensive destruction in the region. They assert that many are buried under the rubble of bombed buildings and tunnels, which were devastated during the prolonged conflict in Gaza.

In a related development, Hamas released the last 20 living hostages on the same day. The emotional toll on families affected by these events continues to be significant as they navigate the aftermath of violence and loss.