The body of another Israeli hostage was recovered from the Gaza Strip and returned to Israel on Friday night.
“The body recovery operation started at 8pm (last night) and lasted for several hours, during which the bodies were exhumed from underground in a compound south of Khan Younes,” a military official told Fox News Jerusalem. Bureau. “His body was then taken to Israel for further identification.”
“This entire effort was carried out and reinforced by comprehensive ground and air operations,” the official said, adding that the terrorist organizations Hamas and Islamic Jihad were still hiding 133 hostages.
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Officials identified the body as that of 47-year-old Elad Katsir. His mother, Hanna, was also held hostage, but she was released on November 24, 2023 as part of a temporary ceasefire at the time.
Troops of Nahal Reconnaissance Force, 162nd Division at Shifa Hospital eliminated the armed terrorists in a close-range encounter, cleared several buildings in the hospital and hid inside the MRI facility and various medical equipment in the hospital. Many weapons were discovered. The roof of the hospital. (IDF Spokesperson Corps.) (IDF Spokesperson Corps.)
A joint statement from the Israel Security Agency (ISA) and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed that Katzir was “killed in captivity”, possibly in January this year. Katsir’s sister claimed in a Facebook post that Hamas killed her brother, but the ISA and the Israel Defense Forces suggested Islamic Jihad was likely responsible.
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“After an overnight identification process conducted by medical personnel at the forensic laboratory, IDF and ISA representatives informed the family that the body of Elad Katsir had been rescued,” the statement read. is written. “IDF and ISA extend their deepest condolences to the bereaved family.”
Smoke rises during an Israeli attack near al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, March 28, 2024, as the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas group continues. (Photo credit: AFP) (Photo credit: -/AFP via Getty Images) (AFP)
Katsir and his mother were among those abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7. The ISA and IDF stressed that they “will continue to cooperate fully with relevant state and security agencies until the mission is completed” to rescue all hostages.
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Katsir is a farmer and social activist who volunteered with the Hadar Foundation and fought for the release of two Israeli soldiers whose bodies were being held in Gaza.
Fox News’ Yael Rotem-Kuriel and Yonat Friling contributed to this report.
