Every night the parents of Omer Neutra, whose remains are thought to be held by Hamas, wait for news of his return.

Israeli forensics examiners have identified the remains of a deceased Israeli hostage handed over on Monday as those of Sergeant Major Tal Haimi, the prime minister’s office said.

Haimi was a veteran of the IDF Paratroopers Brigade and served as the commander of Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak's emergency response squad. He was murdered by Hamas terrorists during the October 7 massacre.

Since the Gaza peace plan took effect early this week, Hamas has handed over 20 living hostages and the confirmed remains of 12 hostages.

Israel identified the remains of a deceased hostage, officials said on Sunday, after the country's military said it had received the coffins of two hostages from Gaza late on Saturday. Ronen Engel, who was 54 at the time of his death, was killed in the October 7 attacks more than two years ago and his body taken into Gaza, according to Israel.

David and his friend hostage Guy Gilboa-Dalal were separated in the tunnels and denied food so they would appear skeletal for filmed “proof-of-life” clips, with food restored only after filming. Viewers around the world were shaken by a Hamas video showing Israeli hostage Evyatar David emaciated and digging what he said was his own grave almost three months ago.

One body Hamas returned to Israel as part of the ceasefire deal "does not match any of the hostages," the Israel Defense Forces said on Wednesday.