Body of an Israeli Hostage Found in Gaza
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Jerusalem, Dec 5 (NationPress) Israeli security forces have confirmed the recovery of the body of an Israeli hostage who was abducted to Gaza during the Hamas assault on October 7, 2023, and have successfully brought him back to Israel.
In a collaborative announcement made on Wednesday, the Shin Bet internal security agency along with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) verified that the body of Itai Svirsky was retrieved during a military operation, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari indicated in a press conference that Svirsky had been abducted alive but was subsequently killed by his captors.
Svirsky, aged 38 and a resident of Tel Aviv, was taken from Kibbutz Be'eri while visiting his parents, who were killed during the Hamas-led attack. A statement from Kibbutz Be'eri suggested that Svirsky was presumed dead as of January 2024.
Hagari also shared insights from a military inquiry regarding the deaths of six Israeli hostages whose remains were found in Khan Younis in southern Gaza in August. The investigation indicated that their deaths were likely associated with an Israeli airstrike aimed at Hamas, occurring 150-200 meters from where they were held captive.
Pathological assessments indicated signs of gunfire on the hostages' remains, but no gunshot wounds were detected on the bodies of the militants guarding them. Hagari stated that the most likely scenario was that the hostages were shot by their guards shortly before or during the airstrike.
"At the time of the strike, the military had no information that hostages were being held in the underground compound," Hagari remarked.
So far, Israeli forces have managed to recover the bodies of 38 hostages, while 117 hostages have been released alive, primarily through negotiated agreements. Approximately 100 others remain held captive in Gaza, and Israel estimates that around one-third of the hostages may no longer be alive.
