What to know about the 5 hostages whose remains are still in Gaza

"Since the U.S.-brokered ceasefire in Gaza began on Oct. 10, Palestinian militants have released the remains of 23 hostages held for the past two years. But the process of returning the bodies of the five remaining hostages, as called for under the truce deal, is progressing slowly. Hamas says it has not been able to reach all of the remains because they are buried under rubble left by Israel's two-year offensive in Gaza."

"In the most recent release, Hamas returned the remains of an Israeli man who died while fighting Hamas in the militants' Oct. 7, 2023 attack that started the war. He was identified as Lior Rudaeff, who was 61 when he was killed. In return, Israel has released the bodies of 285 Palestinians back to Gaza."

"Meny Godard, 73 Meny Godard was a professional soccer player before enlisting in the Israeli military and serving in the 1973 Mideast War, according to Kibbutz Be'eri. He served in a variety of different positions in the kibbutz, including at its printing press. On the morning of Oct. 7, Godard and his wife, Ayelet, were forced out of their home after it was set on fire. She hid in the bushes for a number of hours before militants discovered her and killed her. She was able to tell her children that Meny had been killed before she died. The family held a double funeral for the couple. They are survived by four children and six grandchildren."

Since the U.S.-brokered ceasefire began on Oct. 10, Palestinian militants returned the remains of 23 hostages held for two years. The return of the five remaining hostages mandated by the truce is progressing slowly. Hamas says some remains are inaccessible because they lie under rubble from Israel's two-year offensive. Israel has accused militants of delaying and warned it may resume military operations or withhold humanitarian aid if all remains are not returned. Hamas recently returned the remains of Lior Rudaeff, identified as a 61-year-old Israeli killed during the Oct. 7, 2023 attack. Israel released 285 Palestinian bodies to Gaza without providing identifying details. Gaza health officials, lacking DNA kits, have identified 84 bodies. Meny Godard, 73, was reported killed on Oct. 7; his wife Ayelet was also killed and the family held a double funeral.

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