Israel on Monday night received from Gaza the body of Israel Defense Forces Sgt.-Maj. (res.) Tal Haimi, who was killed by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7, 2023.
After being handed over to Israeli forces through the Red Cross inside the Gaza Strip, Haimi’s body was transferred to Israel and received by a military honor guard and an IDF rabbi, the Prime Minister’s Office said.
The remains were then transferred to the Health Ministry’s National Institute of Forensic Medicine at Abu Kabir in Tel Aviv for identification.
“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 family of hostage Sgt.-Maj. Tal Haimi, of blessed memory, that their loved one had been returned to Israel and his identification had been completed,” said the PMO.
The Israeli government “shares in the deep sorrow of the Haimi family and all the families of the deceased hostages,” continued the statement, stressing that Jerusalem remained committed to “working tirelessly to return all of our deceased hostages for proper burial in their country.”
The PMO added that Hamas must fulfill its obligations under the U.S.-brokered deal and return all hostage bodies, emphasizing that Israel will not relent until all deceased captives are returned for burial.
Under the ceasefire deal in the Gaza Strip that went into effect last week, Hamas was required to return for burial all 28 hostage bodies it held on Oct. 13. So far, the terrorist group has transferred to Jerusalem only 13.
Haimi, 41 at the time of his killing, served on Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak’s rapid response team when dozens of terrorists infiltrated the community during the Hamas-led Oct. 7 massacre.
He was killed while trying to stop gunmen from entering the kibbutz, and his remains were subsequently taken to the Gaza Strip by the attackers.
Haimi, whose death was first confirmed by intelligence services in December 2023, was married with three children. Seven months after the massacre, in May 2024, his wife Ela gave birth to their fourth child.
“Tal was brought home after 745 days,” said the Hostages and Missing Families Forum in a statement. “Tal loved taking his family on nature trips and camping in the outdoors, was an enthusiastic tools hobbyist, and always knew how to find a solution to any problem that arose.
“On the morning of October 7, he went out to fight against dozens of terrorists in a battle at the gate of Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak. Tal and the rest of the quick-response team fought with extraordinary bravery for several hours, and during the battle, Tal fell and was abducted into Gaza.”
Haimi’s confirmed death brings the Israeli military’s total fatalities on all fronts since Oct. 7, 2023, to 919.
