Israel Recovers Bodies of Two Hostages from Gaza, Including Ilan Weiss

Israeli forces have recovered the bodies of two hostages from the Gaza Strip, the military announced Friday. One was identified as Ilan Weiss, a 56-year-old member of Kibbutz Be'eri's emergency response team, who was killed during the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack. The second hostage's remains are undergoing identification at the Abu Kabir National Institute of Forensic Medicine.

Weiss was killed while defending his community from the assault. His wife, Shiri, and daughter, Noga, were also taken hostage during the attack but were released in November 2023 as part of a hostage-prisoner swap deal. Noga was drafted into the Israel Defense Forces in May 2024.

The recovery operation was conducted by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Shin Bet security service, utilizing intelligence from the Military Intelligence Directorate and the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir stated, "This is an ongoing, principled effort that we will continue to pursue. We will not rest or remain silent until all our hostages are returned by any means possible."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed condolences to the families and praised the security forces for their "determination and courage." He reiterated that Israel "will not rest until all hostages are returned—the living and the dead."

According to official figures, 48 hostages remain in captivity in the Gaza Strip, of whom 20 are believed to be alive. The remaining hostages have been confirmed dead by the military.

Defense Minister Israel Katz noted that Weiss "bravely managed the defensive battle in Be'eri and prevented an even greater disaster, alongside other heroes." He also commended the "heroic" work of IDF and Shin Bet forces in the mission, adding, "We will not rest and we will not stop until everyone returns home."

President Isaac Herzog sent his "heartfelt condolences and support" to Weiss's family, stating, "692 days after he was brutally kidnapped with his wife Shiri and their daughter Noga, Ilan's body was recovered in a joint IDF and Shin Bet operation. A moment of deep sorrow, but also of closure."

Opposition Leader Yair Lapid hailed the "heroic operation," writing on X that he "embraces [Weiss's] family in this difficult time." He added, "We must return all of them home."

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum mourned Weiss as "a loving and devoted family man, [who] excelled at cooking and loved to barbecue." The group emphasized, "The hostages are running out of time. We must return all of them home, now!"

The October 7, 2023, attack resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths and 251 hostages taken. Israel's subsequent military campaign in Gaza has led to significant casualties and a humanitarian crisis in the region.