“The government of Israel shares in the deep sorrow of the families of Hayman and Al-Atarash and all the families of the fallen victims,” the PMO said.
The National Center for forensic medicine in Abu Kabir confirmed that Inbar Hayman and Master Sergeant Muharad Atarash were the two dead members who were returned to Israel on Wednesday night, the Prime Minister’s office said on Thursday morning.
“The government of Israel shares in the deep sorrow of the families of Hayman and Al-Atarash and all the families of the fallen victims,” the PMO said.
A subsequent investigation found that Hayman was killed during the October 7, 2023, massacre, and his remains were taken from the Gaza Strip.
He was 27 at the time and was attending the Nova Music festival. He was assassinated on December 15, 2023, leaving behind his parents and brother.
M.-SGT. Atarash was a tracker in the IDF’s Gaza Brigade. He died in battle on October 7, 2023, and he was 39 years old. He left his parents, siblings, two wives and 13 children.
An Israeli Police Convoy transferring the remains of Inbar Hayman and Muhammad al-Atarash to the National Center for forensic medicine in Abu Kabir, October 15, 2025. (Credit: Israel Police)
The identification process was carried out in coordination with the Israeli Police and the Military Rabbi.
At the Family Search Forum, Defense Minister Katz eulogized those who were killed
The kidnappers and families of the missing Forum issued statements urging Hayman and Atarash on Thursday morning.
Hayman was “talented, passionate, and inclusive, and had a spirit of boundless generosity,” Torum said.
Relatives noted that he was “full of creativity and full of joy for life.” He studied film in high school, building a reputation over the years as a respected graffiti artist with a unique style. “
He was known, for his graffiti art, with the words “pink” and “ravens”, which led to the belly “Pink Pink” used as a call for his release following the murder.
Hayman attended the Nova festival as an assistant who “supported the dancers who were not feeling well.
Atarash was described as a ‘strong man who cared for everyone,’ with a particular fondness for animals, especially horses.
His dream, the forum wrote, was to build his own horse farm.
Israel’s Defense Minister KATZ also put the two hostages killed in a post on X / Twitter.
Katz described Hayman as “the true heroine of Hamas’s killers” and is fondly remembered by her family. “
He revealed that his relatives told him about his talent as a graffiti artist, his service as a commander in the IDF’s Caracal Battalion, and the future he wanted to build.
He also wrote about how his father and brother accompanied him to many meetings with world leaders, in Israel and other countries, to share the story of Muhammad.
He recounted that, during the visit of the Belgian foreign minister to Kibbutz Nir oz, Atarashi’s brother asked him to secure the release of the hostages and “in awe” asked him to release the women he kidnapped first, I do not know for sure that his brother was killed.
In conclusion, Katz affirmed that Israel is ‘committed to bringing home all the groups and the fallen.’
A proper burial in his homeland
“The government and the reality of public security of Israel are determined, and they are working tirelessly to return all our absucts to their proper burial in their homeland,” said the statement of the PMO, adding that Hamas is required to support its final end and the administration of aid.
The serform organization was required to return all hostages, both alive and dead. So far, however, 19 of the dead hostages are still living in Gaza.
The news of the identification of Hayman and Atarashi follows news from Thursday night that the remains of the two deceased groups will be brought to the forensic tree in Abu Kabir for identification.
Before that, the Red Cross had brought the remains to Israel in exile in Gaza after opposing the Hamas Al-Qassam Brigades, announcing that it would remove the remains.
So far, in addition to the live hostages, Hamas has taken the remains of nine weaponized horov back into Israeli territory.
Before Hayman and Atarash, the returned hostages were Guy Ullouz, Yossi Sharabi, Bipin Joshi, Uriel Baruch, Staff Sergeant Tamir Nimrodi, and Enitan Levi.
