Tanzanian Hostage Joshua Mollel's Body Returned from Gaza, Bringing Closure to Family

The remains of Joshua Loitu Mollel, a 21-year-old Tanzanian agricultural student, have been returned from Gaza to Israel, providing a measure of closure for his family. Israeli authorities confirmed the identification of Mollel's body on Wednesday, November 6, following forensic tests. His return is part of a US-brokered ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, which mandates the exchange of deceased hostages.

Mollel was tragically killed on October 7, 2023, during the initial Hamas assault on Kibbutz Nahal Oz, where he was participating in an agricultural internship. Reports indicate he was seized alive by Hamas militants before being murdered, with his body subsequently taken into Gaza. "He was brutally murdered right after he was kidnapped. Hamas terrorists who did it, saw he is a foreign civilian, but executed him anyway," stated Michael Elgort on social media, reflecting the grim circumstances of his death.

His family in Tanzania has been notified, ending an agonizing period of uncertainty. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum in Israel commented on the development, saying, "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." Mollel was one of two Tanzanian students taken hostage during the October 7 attacks; the other, Clemence Felix Mtenga, was declared dead earlier and his body repatriated in November 2023.

The return of Mollel's remains brings the total number of deceased hostages repatriated under the ceasefire deal to 22, including 19 Israelis, one Thai national, one Nepali, and Mollel. However, six deceased hostages – five Israelis and one Thai – are still believed to be held in Gaza. Israel has consistently urged Hamas to fulfill its commitments under the agreement to return all remaining bodies, while Hamas has cited difficulties in locating them amidst the widespread devastation in the enclave.

Tanzania's Foreign Minister, January Makamba, had previously confirmed Mollel's death based on information from Israeli authorities, and his father had traveled to Israel to seek more information. Mollel had arrived in Israel just 19 days before the attack, eager to gain agricultural experience to pursue his dream of opening his own business in Tanzania. His return marks a poignant moment for his family and highlights the international dimension of the conflict.