IDF confirms recovering the bodies of two slain hostages from Gaza earlier today

The IDF confirms that it recovered the bodies of two slain Israeli hostages from southern Gaza’s Khan Younis earlier today.

One of the hostages, Yair Yaakov, was abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz and murdered by Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists on October 7, 2023, the military says.

The second hostage, whose name will only be permitted for publication later, was also abducted from Nir Oz and murdered during the onslaught. His family has been notified.

The operation to recover the bodies was carried out by the 36th Division and was “enabled by precise intelligence” obtained by the military’s Hostages Headquarters unit, the Military Intelligence Directorate and the Shin Bet, the IDF says.

The bodies were brought to Israel for identification at the Abu Kabir forensic institute, after which their families and the kibbutz were notified.

Terror groups in the Gaza Strip are now holding 53 hostages, including 52 of the 251 abducted by Hamas-led terrorists on October 7, 2023. They include the bodies of at least 31 confirmed dead by the IDF, and 20 are believed to be alive. There are grave concerns for the well-being of two others, Israeli officials have said.