Israel confirms identity of hostage body returned by Hamas as Manny Godard

Godard was 73 when he was killed during Hamas's raid on kibbutz Be'eri on 7 October 2023.

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Red Cross vehicles collected his body hours after Hamas issued a joint statement with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad saying it had been located in the Khan Younis area of southern Gaza.

The Israeli prime minister's office said forensic testing confirmed the body belonged to Godard, who was killed along with his wife, Ayelet, during Hamas's raid on kibbutz Be'eri on 7 October 2023.

Hamas has now returned all 20 living hostages, and 25 out of 28 deceased hostages, under the first phase of the ceasefire deal - part of a US plan to end the Gaza war.

All the living Israeli hostages were released on 13 October in exchange for 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,718 detainees from Gaza.