Israel Recovers Body of Hostage Held in Gaza
TEL AVIV — In a daring overnight raid on Khan Yunis, Israel’s military successfully retrieved the body of a man who had been taken hostage in Gaza.
The man, Elad Katzir, was abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz during the Hamas attacks on southern Israel on Oct. 7.
After an intense operation, his body has been brought back to Israel, confirmed by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Israel Securities Authority (ISA).
Medical officials were able to positively identify Katzir, and his family has been notified of the heartbreaking news.
In a joint statement, the IDF and ISA stated, “The body of the abductee Elad Katzir, who according to intelligence was murdered in captivity by the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization, was rescued overnight from Khan Yunis and returned to Israeli territory.”
The successful operation was made possible through precise intelligence that led to the location of Katzir’s remains.
Katzir, 47, was taken from Nir Oz alongside his mother Hanna, 77. While Hanna was released in November during a ceasefire, tragically, Katzir’s father, Avraham, was murdered at the kibbutz.
In a disturbing video released by Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad in January, Katzir was seen speaking from captivity in Gaza, pleading for his release and expressing love for his family.
The IDF and ISA reiterated their commitment to bringing all abductees home, stating, “Our mission is to locate and return the abductees home. We are working in full coordination with the relevant national and security bodies and will continue until the task is complete.” — BBC
