Between death and captivity: From ambiguous loss to multisystemic disrupted bereavement of families of deceased-hostages

This article investigates the unprecedented experience of families whose loved ones were abducted during the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, later declared dead, while their bodies remain in Gaza. Drawing on conceptual frameworks of ambiguous loss and traumatic bereavement, the study argues that these families face a conflicting and hybrid form of grieving, simultaneously marked by ambiguity and state-declared resolution. The continued absence of the body undermines the ability to grieve within accepted cultural and institutional frameworks, creating a prolonged and politicized liminal state. Through qualitative analysis of 17 in-depth interviews with families of deceased hostages, the article identifies five interwoven themes: the shift from ambiguous loss to disrupted bereavement; the crisis of recognition surrounding their unique status; a “triple fight” for return, presence, and discourse; the rupture of relational ties; and the multifaceted significance of return. These themes reveal what we conceptualize as multisystemic disrupted bereavement, characterized by simultaneous disruption across four dimensions the '4Ps' of bereavement - psychological, procedural, interpersonal (social), and political - in the absence of cultural scripts. Theoretically, the article contends that this phenomenon represents a configuration that existing frameworks address only partially: while ambiguous loss overlooks formal death, conventional mourning models presuppose a body. The “deceased-hostage” figure thus highlights the need for a conceptual integrative framework addressing death under conditions of captivity and missingness, state failure, and delayed return. The findings call for a multidimensional policy and intervention response, including symbolic recognition, long-term psychosocial support, revised notification protocols, and inclusive commemoration.