Who are the Israeli hostages recently released by Hamas?

The remains were transferred to the Red Cross and brought to Israel for forensic testing. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum confirmed their identities.

So far, 25 Israeli hostages and the remains of eight others have been exchanged for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Five Thai citizens abducted on October 7 were freed last month in a separate deal.

Here’s a look at the hostages released so far:

Ohad Yahalomi, 49
Shot in the leg and taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz with his family. His wife and two daughters escaped, but he and his son Eitan, 12, were taken to Gaza separately. Eitan was released in a November 2023 ceasefire. Yahalomi, who held French citizenship, was a passionate runner, swimmer, and traveler.

Itzhak Elgarat, 68
Taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz, wounded in the hand. His brother was informed by the Israeli military that Itzhak was likely killed in early 2024, with Hamas confirming his death in July 2024. He was last seen alive by freed hostages. Elgarat, a Danish citizen, loved traveling and was a devoted Maccabi Tel Aviv fan.

Shlomo Mantzur, 85
Kidnapped from Kibbutz Kissufim, while his wife escaped. A kibbutz founder, he managed chicken coops and had five children and 12 grandchildren. Born in Iraq, he survived anti-Jewish riots and immigrated to Israel as a teenager. The oldest hostage, he was confirmed killed on October 7, 2023, with his body taken to Gaza.

Tsachi Idan, 49
Taken from Kibbutz Nahal Oz. His eldest daughter was killed, and Hamas militants live-streamed his family being held hostage. Only Tsachi was taken to Gaza. A tech professional, he loved soccer, volleyball, and tennis.

Israelis watch a live broadcast of the release of six hostages from Hamas captivity in Gaza, at a plaza known as the Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, Israel. (AP photo)

Omer Wenkert, 23
A restaurant manager from Gedera, abducted from the Nova festival. His family feared he lacked medication for colitis. Last seen in a Hamas video in November 2023, tied in a pickup truck.

Omer Shem Tov, 22
A musician and DJ from Herzliya, kidnapped at the Nova festival. His friends were released in November 2023. He was last seen in footage held by militants in a truck.

Tal Shoham, 40
Taken from Kibbutz Be’eri after militants burned the house he was in. His wife, children, and extended family were also taken but released in November 2023. An Austrian citizen, he was a volunteer paramedic and former printing house manager.

Eliya Cohen, 27
Kidnapped from the Nova festival while hiding. He lost 20 kg, had an untreated bullet wound, and was held in tunnels, chained most of the time. His fiancée survived by hiding under bodies.

Avera Mengistu, 38
Held in Gaza since crossing into the territory on his own in 2014. His family had no proof of life until Hamas released a video in 2023. He struggled with mental health issues and had gone missing before.

Hisham Al-Sayed, 36
Crossed into Gaza in 2015 and was held captive since. A Bedouin Arab from the Negev, diagnosed with schizophrenia. Hamas released a video in 2022 showing him with an oxygen mask.

The Bibas Family
Ariel (4) and Kfir (9 months) Bibas were the youngest hostages. Hamas claimed they died in an Israeli airstrike, but Israel stated they were killed in captivity in November 2023. Their mother, Shiri, was also killed, while their father, Yarden, was released in 2024. A video of their abduction showing Shiri holding her sons became widely known.

Friends of freed Israeli hostage Eliya Cohen celebrate his release from Hamas captivity in the Gaza strip, as they wait for his arrival at Beilinson hospital in Petah Tikva, Israel. (AP photo)

Oded Lifshitz, 84
Taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz with his wife, Yocheved, who was later freed. A journalist and peace advocate, he helped transport Palestinians for medical care. His body was returned Thursday.

Sagui Dekel Chen, 36
An Israeli-American taken from his kibbutz while working. His wife, Avital, was seven months pregnant at the time and later gave birth. A tennis player and co-founder of a youth arts center.

Iair Horn, 46
An Israel-Argentinian taken along with his brother, Eitan, who remains in captivity. Managed the kibbutz pub and was a Beersheba soccer fan.

Alexander (Sasha) Troufanov, 29
An Israeli-Russian engineer at Amazon, taken with his family, who were later freed. Held by Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which released videos of him in captivity.

Eli Sharabi, 52
Taken from Kibbutz Be’eri, where his wife and daughters were killed. His brother, Yossi, was also killed in captivity, and Hamas is holding his body. His home still bears marks of the attack.

Ohad Ben Ami, 56
An accountant from Kibbutz Be’eri, taken with his wife, Raz, who was released in November 2023. Described as a passionate nature lover and the “cornerstone of his family.”

Or Levy, 34
A computer programmer from Rishon Lezion, taken from a bomb shelter near the Nova music festival. His wife was killed, and their 3-year-old son is now in the care of relatives. He was taken captive alongside Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was later killed in captivity.

Keith Siegel, 65
An American from North Carolina, taken from Kibbutz Kfar Aza with his wife, Aviva, who was later freed. She campaigned for his release after enduring 51 days of captivity with him.

Ofer Kalderon, 54
A French-Israeli taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz. His teenage children, Sahar and Erez, were also abducted but freed in the 2023 ceasefire.

Arbel Yehoud, 29
A third-generation resident of Kibbutz Nir Oz, taken with her boyfriend, Ariel Cunio. Loves science and space; her friends held a public star-gazing event for her birthday in captivity. Her brother was killed on October 7.

Agam Berger, 20
A violinist and soldier from a Tel Aviv suburb, taken from the Nahal Oz military base. In a video of her abduction, her face was covered in blood. She was later released.

People wave as a military helicopter carrying two Israeli freed hostages Omer Shem Tov and Eliya Cohen, arrives at Beilinson hospital in Petah Tikva, Israel, after they were released from Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip. (AP photo)

Gadi Moses, 80
An agronomist from Kibbutz Nir Oz, known for his agricultural expertise. His partner, Efrat, was killed in the attack.

Watchara Sriaoun, 33
A Thai agricultural worker taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz, where militants attacked a compound housing foreign workers. Five Thai workers, including him, were abducted; 11 were killed.

Sathian Suwannakham, 35
Another Thai worker taken from Nir Oz. The kibbutz community has been vocal in advocating for the release of Thai hostages.

Surasak Rumnao, 32
Abducted from the town of Yesha near the Gaza border. His mother was notified of his release by the Thai Embassy in Israel.

Pongsak Thaenna, 36
Taken from Yesha. The Thai government actively negotiated for the release of Thai hostages, who were the largest group of foreign nationals held in Gaza.

Bannawat Saethao, 27
Also abducted from Yesha. Thailand pressed for the hostages’ release in diplomatic talks with Israel, Hamas, Qatar, and Iran.

Liri Albag, 19
An Israeli soldier taken from Nahal Oz military base. Hamas released a video of her in January, showing her in distress. Her family has been active in protests pushing for hostage negotiations.

Karina Ariev, 20
Another soldier abducted from Nahal Oz. Before being taken, she sent a final message to her family urging them to care for her parents. She loved to cook, sing, dance, and write poetry.

Daniella Gilboa, 20
A soldier taken from Nahal Oz. Originally named Danielle, her parents changed her name per Jewish tradition for divine protection. From Petah Tikva, she studied music in high school and dreams of becoming a singer.

Naama Levy, 20
Taken from Nahal Oz, she was seen in widely circulated footage wearing bloodstained gray sweatpants during her abduction. A triathlete, she once participated in the ‘Hands of Peace’ program, which fosters coexistence among Israelis, Palestinians, and Americans.

Romi Gonen, 24
Abducted from the Nova music festival, she stayed on a call with her family for nearly five hours while hiding in bushes. She survived partly by learning Arabic to communicate with her captors. Her father said, “I just enjoy being with her even in silence, touching, hugging, watching her.”

Emily Damari, 28
A British-Israeli citizen taken from her apartment in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, near the Gaza border. Her mother reported that she was “in high spirits and on the road to recovery” after her release.

Doron Steinbrecher, 31
A veterinary nurse from Kibbutz Kfar Aza with Israeli and Romanian citizenship. Featured in a Hamas video in January 2024, she appeared weak and gaunt, worrying her family but confirming she was alive.

(With inputs from AP)