Hostages Reunite to Honor Deceased Commander in Jerusalem

Two hostages released by Hamas gathered in a solemn farewell at a cemetery in Jerusalem on Wednesday, marking a poignant moment for those affected by the recent conflict. Matan Angrest, who returned to Israel just two days prior, paid his respects to his 22-year-old commander, Capt. Daniel Peretz, whose body was among the few returned from Gaza. Surrounded by hundreds of mourners, Angrest expressed hope for the safe return of Sgt. Itay Chen, another member of their unit whose remains are still unaccounted for in Gaza.

“It’s the least I can do for Daniel and the team that fought with me,” Angrest, 22, said, his voice steady despite his visible fatigue. “I’m sure that they are still guarding me from heaven.” Angrest, Peretz, and Chen were part of a tank crew when they were captured during the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, a day that resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 people in Israel and the abduction of 251 individuals.

Challenges in Returning Deceased Hostages

Under the terms of a recent ceasefire, Hamas is expected to return all 28 deceased hostages’ bodies held in Gaza. As of Wednesday, only ten bodies had been repatriated. One body was confirmed not to belong to a hostage, while two others await identification. This situation leaves many families in a painful limbo, unable to provide their loved ones with the proper burial that is essential in the Jewish faith.

Rabbi Benny Lau, a friend of the Peretz family, articulated the spiritual obligation families feel in such circumstances. “This is our obligation to God; we take the body and return it to the land,” he stated. He underscored the belief that while the soul belongs to God, the physical body remains the responsibility of the living.

Judaism, along with Islam and Christianity, teaches that a person’s soul continues to exist after death. However, both Judaism and Islam emphasize the importance of burying the body as soon as possible, often within a day, accompanied by rituals and prayers. Sharon Laufer, a volunteer with Jewish burial societies and a reserve soldier, explained, “Until the body is put in the ground, the soul is not complete, and that’s why it’s so important to us.”

This ongoing struggle to retrieve the remains translates into a relentless pursuit for families, who engage in negotiations with the government while holding onto hope for their loved ones’ return. “We cannot close that chapter of these two years without returning all of them,” Laufer added.

Emotional Impact on Families

While many families celebrated the return of living hostages on Monday, they felt a deep sense of betrayal by those who claimed the crisis was over. Itay Chen, abducted at just 19 years old, remains missing. His father, Ruby Chen, reflected on the emotional turmoil, saying, “It’s a bizarre feeling where you start the day anticipating to get the worst phone call that you will in your lifetime, and then feel disappointed when you do not get that phone call.”

Many gathered in Tel Aviv to honor another deceased hostage, Guy Illouz, who was abducted from a music festival. Shlomit Grouda, among the mourners, shared her conflicting emotions. “I fought for them to come home, and as I was happy for the ones who came back alive, it’s now time to bow our heads for those who didn’t,” she said.

Ela Haimi, who watched her husband Tal Haimi leave their safe room to defend their kibbutz during the attack, continues to grapple with uncertainty. After initially believing he had been taken alive, she received news that he was likely killed. “I think he deserves this honor. He went out first, knowing I was alone with the kids among terrorists, to protect us. And he did,” she stated, emphasizing her desire for him to be buried at their kibbutz.

Rituals surrounding death and mourning are integral to Jewish life, offering both spiritual and psychological benefits. Rabbi Mijael Even David pointed out that families struggle to find closure without the ability to bury their loved ones. “We need to give them the time and the possibility to move from the terrible uncertainty to learning to live with the reality that the person is no longer there,” he said.

Dr. Einat Yehene, a rehabilitation psychologist, noted that only when all hostages are returned can families and the nation begin to heal from the profound trauma. At Peretz’s funeral, his sister Adina Peretz conveyed her pain, stating that standing by his grave felt more painful than she had anticipated. Yet, there was solace in being closer to her brother than she had been for two years. “You can finally rest in the Holy Land,” she said.

The service concluded with heartfelt tributes from family and dignitaries, including Israel’s president. Shelley Peretz, Daniel’s mother, expressed that her son’s return to Israel on the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah was significant. “We have you home now where you belong,” she said, as a gun salute honored his memory.

This tragedy continues to resonate deeply within the community as families seek closure and the nation grapples with the aftermath of a conflict that has left profound scars on its people. The journey toward healing remains long and complex.