Body of soldier killed in October 7 battle recovered from Gaza

The body of Staff Sgt. Tomer Yaakov Ahimas, 20 has been recovered from Gaza and brought to Israel in a military operation, the head of the local council in his hometown of Lehavim says.

Ahimas was killed along with other soldiers in the forward command team of Col. Asaf Hamami, the commander of the Gaza Division’s Southern Brigade, as they battled Hamas terrorists near Kibbutz Nirim on October 7.

The remains of Ahimas and two other slain soldiers were abducted into Gaza during the fighting.

The announcement marks the third body announced recovered on Wednesday. Earlier, Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak announced that the body of hostage Oren Goldin was recovered, and Kibbutz Nir Oz announced that the body of Maya Goren had also been brought back to Israel.

Ahimas will be buried in Lehavim on Thursday evening. A funeral was held for him on November 29, 54 days after he was killed. He is survived by his parents, Moshe and Anat, and his siblings Maya, Gil, Eyal, and his twin brother Amir, as well as his girlfriend Shay-li Hen.