who was working as an agricultural intern at Kibbutz Nahal Oz when he was taken hostage.
Israeli authorities confirmed Thursday that the remains brought back from Gaza belonged to Mollel. His family got the news after forensic teams finished the identification.
Mollel was seized alive by Hamas on October 7, 2023, killed that same day, and his body was taken into Gaza. He leaves behind his parents and four siblings.
Six hostages who were killed are still held in Gaza: five Israelis—Meny Godard, Lt. Hadar Goldin, Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, Dror Or, and Lior Rudaeff—and Sudthisak Rinthalak, a foreign national.
“We share the deep sorrow of the Mollel family and all the families of the hostages,” the Prime Minister’s Office said. The statement added that Israel is “determined and working tirelessly” to bring back the remaining hostages for burial, and called on Hamas to honor its commitments under the current agreement.
Image source code – The six deceased hostages whose bodies were still held in Gaza as of November 6, 2025: (Top row from left) Meny Godard, Ran Gvili, Dror Or; (Bottom row) Sudthisak Rinthalak, Lior Rudaeff, Hadar Goldin. (Collage by Times of Israel; Photos: Courtesy)
After 761 days in captivity, Mollel’s return brought a mix of heartbreak and relief.
The Foreign Ministry, in a message on X, said, “While Joshua wasn’t an Israeli citizen, over the past two years we Israelis adopted him into our hearts. While he’ll travel home to his family in Tanzania, we feel like one of our own is back.” They described him as kind, polite, and hardworking—a young man full of hope and curiosity on his first trip abroad.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum paid tribute to Mollel, highlighting his ever-present smile and the pain his family endured during the long wait for answers. “Amid their grief and the knowledge that their hearts will never fully heal, Joshua’s return offers some comfort to a family that has endured unbearable uncertainty for over two years,” the Forum wrote. “We won’t rest until every hostage comes home.”
Kibbutz Nahal Oz also released a statement, saying it shares in the family’s pain and deep sorrow.
Hamas gave Mollel’s remains to the Red Cross Wednesday night, who then handed them to Israeli soldiers in Gaza. The IDF examined the casket, draped it with an Israeli flag, and held a short ceremony led by a military rabbi. After leaving Gaza, police escorted the body to the Abu Kabir forensic institute in Tel Aviv for identification. Hamas didn’t say who the hostage was when they handed over the body.
Mollel is the 22nd deceased hostage Hamas has handed over since the ceasefire started on October 10. That truce ended the fighting that began when Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. At the start of the ceasefire, Hamas still held 48 hostages—20 alive and 28 dead. Under the ceasefire, they were supposed to return all of them. While all living hostages have now been released, Israel accuses Hamas of dragging out the return of the bodies.
Of the 22 bodies returned, 19 were Israelis, one was Thai, one Nepali, and one was Mollel.
Mollel arrived at Kibbutz Nahal Oz just 19 days before the October 7 attack. It was his first time leaving Tanzania. He was eager to learn about farming and dreamed of starting his own agricultural business someday. On the morning of the attack, he was working in the kibbutz’s barn when Hamas took him hostage.
On December 13, 2023, authorities told Mollel’s father, Loitu—who had just arrived in Israel—that his son was confirmed dead. According to reports, Loitu didn’t immediately tell the rest of the family, since there was no body and no clear record of what happened. Now, after more than two years, Joshua Loitu Mollel will finally return home.