Israel has recovered the bodies of two hostages, Judi Weinstein-Haggai and Gad Haggai, who were being held by Hamas in Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Thursday.

According to a statement from the Israeli military, the couple’s remains were retrieved during a special operation conducted in the Khan Younis area of the Gaza Strip. The recovery marks a somber development in Israel’s ongoing efforts to locate and rescue citizens abducted during Hamas’s October 7, 2023, assault.

Following this latest operation, Israeli estimates suggest that 56 hostages remain in captivity, with fewer than half believed to still be alive.

The hostage crisis began during the October 7 attack, in which Hamas-led militants killed approximately 1,200 people and abducted 251 others, according to Israeli figures. In the months since, Israel’s retaliatory military campaign has led to a devastating toll on Gaza, with more than 54,000 Palestinians reported killed by local health authorities.

The humanitarian situation remains dire, as calls continue from the international community for both sides to de-escalate the violence and prioritise the safety of civilians.

Follow us on: