As Israel awaits the return of 28 slain hostages, the Ministry of Religious Services leads a solemn mission of dignity, faith, and national grief.
Israel stands at a moment of unbearable sorrow and sacred duty as it prepares to receive the bodies of 28 hostages — brutally murdered by Hamas terrorists during captivity in Gaza. Behind the scenes, an extraordinary national effort is underway to ensure each fallen soul is honored with the full dignity, reverence, and protection they deserve.
Yehuda Avidan, Director-General of the Ministry of Religious Services, revealed the complex and delicate preparations during an interview with Kan Reshet Bet.
“We are preparing to receive anywhere between one and twenty-eight bodies,” Avidan said quietly. “We are acting with the utmost sensitivity and understanding, as we have throughout this war.”
Fear of Hamas Treachery
Avidan detailed the immense security risks involved in recovering the remains, warning that Hamas has previously booby-trapped bodies with grenades and explosives.
“We do not trust Hamas with anything,” he stated firmly. “Every body will be meticulously examined before any identification begins.”
The preliminary checks are carried out by the Red Cross, followed by full forensic identification at the Abu Kabir Institute of Forensic Medicine — a process guided by intelligence files for each hostage.
Most of the 28 victims have already been officially declared deceased by a special rabbinical committee led by Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, ensuring that each case meets the highest standards of halachic (Jewish legal) certainty, including permission for widows to remarry.
“There is no room for error,” Avidan stressed. “Every soul is treated as sacred.”
Families Facing a Second Funeral
Tragically, several families have already completed mourning rituals — some even held symbolic burials using personal belongings in place of the remains. The impending return of their loved ones’ bodies means enduring a second, excruciating funeral.
“We are helping each family plan a proper, dignified funeral,” Avidan said. “Every family will have the chance to say a final goodbye — with full national and religious honor.”
The Ministry of Religious Services, together with the IDF, Israel Police, and other agencies, continues to coordinate every detail — from burial locations to memorial arrangements — ensuring each victim is remembered as a hero of the Jewish nation.
“My Greatest Fear – Ron Arad”
When asked about his deepest fear, Avidan’s voice turned somber:
“Ron Arad,” he said, invoking the Israeli Air Force navigator who went missing in 1986. “My greatest fear is that Hamas will claim some bodies were never recovered, leaving families trapped in uncertainty. That is the most terrifying scenario.”
In his closing words, Avidan expressed the collective hope of the Israeli people:
“May we only hear good news. May every captive and fallen soldier return home. And may we never again face such pain.”
This operation — solemn, sacred, and steeped in faith — reflects the enduring spirit of Israel: a nation that never abandons its sons and daughters, even in death, and whose moral light shines brightest through its deepest grief.
