Israel Recovers Two Hostage Bodies from Gaza

Israeli forces recovered the bodies of two hostages from southern Gaza, including Yair Yaakov, who was killed during the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Kibbutz Nir Oz. The identity of the second hostage, also taken from Nir Oz, has not been publicly released. The operation was carried out using intelligence from the IDF and Shin Bet, amid ongoing political pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government and following the collapse of a ceasefire. Both Netanyahu and the Hostages and Missing Families Forum offered condolences and reaffirmed commitments to recover all remaining hostages. Of the 53 hostages still believed held in Gaza, fewer than half are thought to be alive. Gaza's Health Ministry reports over 55,000 Palestinian deaths and massive displacement since the war began.