The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have announced the recovery of the body of Israeli hostage Ilan Weiss, 56, during an operation in the Gaza Strip. Weiss was killed on October 7, 2023, during Hamas’s unprecedented attack on southern Israel, before his body was taken into Gaza.
According to the IDF, the remains of a second hostage were also recovered, though their identity has not yet been disclosed. Following this development, 48 hostages remain in Gaza, with Israel estimating that at least 20 are still alive.
Weiss, a father and husband from Kibbutz Be’eri, was killed while defending his community on the day of the assault. His wife, Shiri, and daughter, Noga, were kidnapped by Hamas but later freed during a brief ceasefire in November 2023.
President Isaac Herzog paid tribute to Weiss, praising his “courage and noble spirit” and commending his family for their “extraordinary strength in their struggle for his return.”
The October 7 Hamas attack claimed the lives of around 1,200 people and saw 251 hostages taken into Gaza, sparking Israel’s full-scale military offensive against the militant group.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, facing mounting domestic pressure, continues to insist that the defeat of Hamas is the only way to secure the release of the remaining hostages. Massive protests in Tel Aviv and other cities have demanded an urgent hostage deal and an end to the war.
Meanwhile, the IDF confirmed it has begun the “initial stages” of its advance into Gaza City, despite an earlier announcement of a planned humanitarian pause in fighting. The military said the suspension would not apply to operations in the city, citing “situational assessments and directives of the political echelon.”
In recent days, Israel has intensified air strikes on Gaza City, urging civilians to flee towards makeshift shelters in the south of the enclave as the humanitarian crisis deepens.
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