Crime

By Pesach Benson • November 3, 2025

Jerusalem, 3 November, 2025 (TPS-IL) — The remains of three Israelis returned from Gaza overnight were confirmed to be Col. Assaf Hammi, capt. omer Neutra and Sgt. Oz Daniel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed Monday morning.

“The Israeli government shares in the deep sorrow of the Hammi, Nowtra, and Daniel families and of all the families of the deceased abductees,” Netanyahu’s office said.

All three fell in battle on October 7, 2023.

Hamami, 40, was killed fighting Hamas terrorists in Kibbutz Nirim on October 7, 2023, and his body was also taken into Gaza. For months, his family did not know whether he was alive or dead until the Israel Defense Forces confirmed his death that December based on intellgence.

Hamami is survived by his wife and three children.

Neutra, just shy of his 22nd birthday, commanded an outpost in the western Negev near the Gaza border, between Kibbutz Nir Oz and Kibbutz Nirim. Despite heavy rocket fire, he and his tank crew rushed to the border to repel the Hamas assault. The tank was hit, and the crew was taken captive into Gaza. Based on intelligence, the IDF determined in December 2024 that Neutra was mortally wounded on the day of the attack and died in a tunnel that same day. He and Daniel served in the same tank.

Neutra, a US-Israeli national originally from Long Island, is survived by his parents, two brothers, and two sisters.

Daniel, 21, was killed while battling Hamas terrorists near the Gaza border on October 7, 2023, and his body was taken into Gaza. In February 2024, he was officially declared dead based on intelligence findings. His family sat shiva and held a funeral, though they were unable to bury him. A gifted guitar player, Daniel is survived by his parents and twin sister.

Around 1,200 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken captive by Hamas during the October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel. The bodies of eight Israelis remain in Gaza.