IDF recovers body of civilian hostage Elia Toledano, 28, from Gaza

The body of civilian hostage Elia Toledano, 28, was found by Israeli troops in Gaza and returned to Israel, the military said on December 15, 2023. (Courtesy)
The body of civilian hostage Elia Toledano, 28, was found by Israeli troops in Gaza and returned to Israel, the military said on December 15, 2023. (Courtesy)

The Israel Defense Forces announces that IDF troops have recovered the body of civilian hostage Elia Toledano, 28, who was taken by terrorists from the Supernova music festival near Kibbutz Re’im on October 7.

Toledano’s body was retrieved from Gaza during operational activity carried out by the Military Intelligence Directorate’s Unit 504, and the 551st Brigade.

After his body was brought back to Israel and identified by medical and rabbinical authorities, his family was notified.

There were no details on how he died or when.

Some 360 partygoers were killed during the Hamas-led assault on the music festival, and another 36 were taken hostage.

It is believed that 134 hostages remain in Gaza — not all of them alive — out of the 240 taken on October 7, when thousands of terrorists also killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians in their homes and at the music festival.

A temporary truce from November 24 to December 1 saw the release of 105 civilian hostages — Israeli women and children and foreign nationals — held by Hamas. Four hostages were released prior to the temporary truce and hostage release in late November, and one was rescued by troops.

The bodies of six hostages have also been recovered, including Toledano’s. The Israel Defense Forces has confirmed the deaths of some 20 of those still held by Hamas, citing new intelligence and findings obtained by troops operating in Gaza.

Toledano was at the Supernova festival with friend Mia Schem, 21, who was released on December 1 as part of the temporary truce deal. Schem was shot in the arm during the attack, and following her release, her aunt said that while in captivity she had been operated on by a Palestinian veterinarian.

According to witnesses, Toledano was last seen with Schem in the early morning of October 7 at the party.

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