IDF Recovers Bodies of Two Hostages in Gaza Operation
In a military operation, the IDF and Shin Bet today (Wednesday) recovered the bodies of hostages Yair Yaakov, HY”D, and another hostage whose name has not yet been cleared for publication. The operation took place in the Khan Yunis area of the Gaza Strip • Full Article
Yair Yaakov, of blessed memory, from Kibbutz Nir Oz, was kidnapped and brutally murdered by terrorists from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad on SimchatsTorah, October 7, 2023.
Yair’s partner, Merav Tal, and two of his children, Or and Yagil Yaakov, were also abducted by Hamas on Simchat Torah and later released as part of the “Heaven’s Doors” deal. Yair, a father of three, was 59 years old at the time of his death.
May God avenge his blood.
In addition, the body of another hostage was recovered. His family has been notified, and his name will be released at a later time.
The rescue operation was carried out by IDF forces from the 36th Division under the Southern Command. After an identification process conducted at the National Center for Forensic Medicine in cooperation with the Israel Police, the IDF’s Personnel Directorate hostage team informed the families and the community of Kibbutz Nir Oz.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated:
“In an operational activity by the IDF and Shin Bet in the Gaza Strip, the bodies of two of our hostages have been returned to Israel — Yair Yaakov, HY”D, and another hostage whose name has not yet been released (his family has been notified). Yair Yaakov was murdered and kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz by the Islamic Jihad on October 7, 2023. Along with all citizens of Israel, my wife and I send our heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones. I thank the soldiers and commanders for another successful execution of the sacred mission to bring our hostages home. We will not rest or remain silent until all our hostages are brought back — both the living and the fallen.”
Defense Minister Yisral Katz added:
“In a complex operation by IDF and Shin Bet fighters, the bodies of Yair Yaakov, of blessed memory, and another fallen hostage whose name has not yet been released, were returned to Israel. Yair was murdered and kidnapped on the Black Saturday of October 7 by terrorists from the Islamic Jihad.”
“I share in the deep sorrow of the families and thank the fighters who acted heroically during the operation. Israel will not rest for a moment until all the hostages — the living and the fallen — are brought home. This is a moral, national, and ethical mission — and we will continue to act decisively until it is completed.”
Currently, 53 hostages remain in Hamas captivity, 20 of whom are believed to be alive.
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