CNN
–
The bodies of the two deceased hostages have been recovered from southern Gaza in a military operation, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and Singh Bett security agency announced Wednesday evening.
Yair Yaakov was killed by Islamic jihad militants during a Hamas-led terrorist attack on October 7, 2023. Yaakov, who was 59 at the time, was killed in Kibtsnirooz and his body was taken to Gaza.
His partner, Meirav Tal and his two children were taken hostages and later released in an earlier hostage contract.
According to IDF and Shin Bet, additional hostage bodies have also been recovered, but the second name has not yet been made public at the request of the family.
“Along with all the citizens of Israel, my wife and I express our sincere appreciation to our family who have lost their loved one,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement.
“In addition to the pain and mourning, we feel a measure of security to know that we are both placed to rest with dignity.
“We repeat the demand for decision makers to arrive at a complete and comprehensive agreement to bring all 53 remaining hostages home.
The recovery of these two bodies comes less than a week after the Israeli military recovered the remains of 70-year-old Judy Weinstein Hagai and 72-year-old Gadi Hagai. Last week, Israeli forces also recovered the body of Thai hostage Natapon Pinta.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
