Israel recovered the body of hostage Ilan Weiss in the Gaza Strip

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Shin Bet confirmed the recovery and identification of Ilan Weiss's body, as well as the remains of another hostage whose name has not yet been released, in the Gaza Strip.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his condolences to the families: “Together with all citizens of Israel, my wife and I send our deepest condolences to the beloved families and share their deep pain. The campaign to bring the hostages back continues without pause. We won't rest or remain silent until everyone returns home, both the living and the fallen.”

President Isaac Herzog highlighted Weiss's bravery during the October 7 attack: “Ilan showed courage and a noble spirit when he fought against the terrorists on that dark day. In his death, he gave life. Since then, his family has demonstrated extraordinary strength in the fight for his return.”

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Israel Katz thanked the fighters who risk their lives to recover the abducted: “Bringing the hostages back, whether alive or fallen, is the central objective of the upcoming maneuver.”

Weiss, 56 years old, was a member of Kibbutz Be’eri, located next to the border with Gaza, and was part of the community's emergency team.

In January 2024, the kibbutz confirmed that he had been killed during the October 7 massacre and that his body was taken by Hamas to Gaza.

That same day, his wife Shiri and his daughter Noga were abducted, although they were released in November 2023 during a temporary truce. His other two daughters, Meytal and Maayan, managed to hide from the terrorists and were rescued by Israeli soldiers. The family's dog, Ketem, was killed during the attack.

The identification of the second recovered hostage is still ongoing and his family has already been notified.