The body of Israeli hostage Idan Shtivi has been identified following a military operation in Gaza earlier this week that retrieved the remains of two hostages, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said on Saturday.
On Friday, Netanyahu’s office had confirmed the recovery of Ilan Weiss’s body, along with the remains of another individual whose identity was initially withheld but has now been confirmed as Shtivi.
With the recovery of Weiss and Shtivi, Israel now reports that 48 hostages remain in Gaza, with only 20 believed to be alive.
“Idan Shtivi was abducted from the Tel Gama area and brutally murdered by Hamas terrorists after acting to rescue and evacuate others from the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023. He was 28 years old at the time of his death,” the Israeli military said in a statement on Saturday.
According to Israeli figures, around 1,200 people were killed and approximately 251 taken hostage during the Hamas-led attack on southern Israeli communities in October 2023.
The health ministry in Gaza reports that Israel’s military response has killed over 63,000 Palestinians. The conflict has displaced nearly the entire population of the enclave, caused widespread destruction to infrastructure, and led to a deepening humanitarian crisis.
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With inputs from Reuters