Israel identifies body of hostage Idan Shtivi retrieved from Gaza

48 hostages remain in Gaza after retrieval of Shtivi’s and Ilan Weiss’s bodies, says Israel

Two men hold portraits of Israeli hostage Idan Shtivi, abducted by Palestinian militants during the October 7th. His body has been identified after it was recovered on Friday. Photograph: Ahmad Gharabli/AFP/Getty Images
Two men hold portraits of Israeli hostage Idan Shtivi, abducted by Palestinian militants during the October 7th. His body has been identified after it was recovered on Friday. Photograph: Ahmad Gharabli/AFP/Getty Images

Israel identified the body of hostage Idan Shtivi, recovered from the Gaza Strip in a military operation this week that retrieved the remains of two hostages, prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s office said on Saturday.

Mr Netanyahu’s office had announced on Friday the retrieval of Ilan Weiss’s body along with the remains of another hostage, whose identity is now known to be that of Mr Shtivi but had not been disclosed at the time.

With Mr Weiss and Mr Shtivi’s bodies recovered, Israel says 48 hostages remain in Gaza, of whom only 20 are 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 7th, 2023. He was 28 years old at the time of his death,” the Israeli military said on Saturday in a statement.

The body of Israeli hostage Ilan Weiss was one of two recovered on Friday. Photograph: AP
The body of Israeli hostage Ilan Weiss was one of two recovered on Friday. Photograph: AP

About 1,200 people were killed and about 251 taken hostage when the Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked Israeli southern communities in October 2023, Israel’s tallies show.

Gaza’s health ministry says Israel’s subsequent military assault has killed over 63,000 Palestinians. The war has displaced nearly the enclave’s entire population, devastated infrastructure and triggered a humanitarian crisis. – Reuters

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