Body of Israeli hostage recovered in Gaza, IDF says

The physique of Israeli hostage Ilan Weiss has been recovered in an operation within the Gaza Strip, Israel’s army has introduced.

Weiss, 56, was killed throughout Hamas’s assault in southern Israel on 7 October 2023.

The stays of a second hostage, whose identification has not been launched but, had been additionally recovered, the Israel Protection Forces (IDF) says.

Israel launched a large offensive in Gaza following the assault through which 1,200 individuals had been killed and 251 taken again to the territory as hostages.

After the newest announcement, 48 hostages stay in Gaza – 20 of whom Israel believes are nonetheless alive.

Ilan Weiss was killed whereas defending Kibbutz Beeri on the day of the assault. His physique was taken to Gaza.

Weiss’s spouse, Shiri, and daughter, Noga, had been taken hostage by Hamas on the identical day. They had been launched throughout a short lived ceasefire in November 2023.

“Ilan confirmed braveness and noble spirit when he fought the terrorists on that darkish day,” Israeli President Isaac Herzog mentioned, earlier than praising Weiss’s household’s “extraordinary power of their battle for his return”.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been dealing with robust home strain to agree a deal that may allow the return of all hostages nonetheless in captivity.

Enormous protests have been held demanding an finish to the conflict, as Israel pushes forward with its plan to take over Gaza Metropolis and finally set up management over the complete Strip. Netanyahu argues the defeat of Hamas will safe the discharge of the hostages.

The nation’s army says it has begun the “preliminary levels” of its advance into Gaza Metropolis.

The IDF mentioned a scheduled pause in army motion which had been because of come into impact at 10:00 (07:00 GMT) wouldn’t apply to Gaza Metropolis. It mentioned this was in “accordance with the situational evaluation and directives of the political echelon”.

In latest days, Israel has carried out air strikes on Gaza Metropolis and suggested residents to make their approach in direction of makeshift housing within the south of the Gaza Strip.

Since 14 August, the day the offensive was introduced, about 20,000 individuals have been displaced to the south from Gaza Metropolis along with about 40,000 transferring additional north, in accordance the UN’s humanitarian affairs workplace.

Western nations – and the UN – have warned that an operation in an space of Gaza the place greater than one million individuals reside would have devastating penalties.

Most of Gaza’s inhabitants has been repeatedly displaced.

Greater than 90% of houses are estimated to be broken or destroyed and the healthcare, water, sanitation and hygiene techniques have collapsed.

Final week, a UN-backed physique, which screens starvation ranges all over the world, raised its meals insecurity standing in components of Gaza to the best and most extreme – confirming famine for the primary time. Israel denies there may be hunger within the territory.

Not less than 62,966 Palestinians have been killed by Israel’s army marketing campaign in Gaza for the reason that conflict started, in line with the territory’s Hamas-run well being ministry.