Israel says it has regained the remains of the hostages in Gaza

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from Israel said on Wednesday that the military and security forces have regained the remains of the Israeli hostages who have been held in Gaza since October 7, 2023, led by Hamas, which sparked the war.

“The bodies of two of our hostages were returned to Israel,” Mr. Netanyahu said in a statement.

Mr. Netanyahu said that Mr. Yakov was “killed and kidnapped” by the Islamic Jihad armed group in the 2023 attack. He added: “With all the citizens of Israel, my wife and I made our heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their dearest loved ones.”

The Israeli army said in a statement on Wednesday on the other hostage: “His family has been notified and his name will be wiped to be released later,” the Israeli army said in a statement on Wednesday.

Mr. Yakov was a member of Kibbutz Nir Oz, an agricultural community near the border with Gaza, which was severely injured. He was 59 years old when he was killed, according to a statement issued by the hostage forum and missing families, which represents the relatives of some prisoners.

He was transferred from his home with his children, or Wajil, and his partner Miral, according to the forum, and his death was confirmed in February 2024. Other family members were released as part of a temporary ceasefire deal in November 2023.

The forum said in its statement on behalf of Mr. Yakov’s children: “Yar was a loyal man with a great heart, and he was always ready to help others.”

On Saturday, the Israeli security forces said they have recovered the body of a Thai citizen, Natabong PineaHe was in his thirties and farm workers at Kibbutz nir oz when he was kidnapped to Gaza in the 2023 attack.

Last week, the Israeli authorities said that they recovered from Gaza remains Two American Israeli members in Kibbutz Nir OzJudy Winstein Hagai, 70, who was also a Canadian citizen; Her husband, Jadi Hagai, 72.

This last operation reaches 53, the number of life and dead prisoners, which is believed to be held in Gaza. The Israeli government said it believes that up to 23 hostages.

The hostage declaration came on Wednesday, when the Israeli army was conducting extensive operations in Gaza, while he said it was an attempt to remove Hamas from power. It also came at a time when Israel is facing increasing international pressure on its behavior of the war. In March, Israel imposed a siege for approximately 80 days on the humanitarian aid that enters the pocket, as the initial stage of a two -month ceasefire with Hamas ended.

Both sides were supposed to negotiate the next steps in the armistice. Israeli officials have argued that the restrictions aimed at pressuring Hamas to settle. Relief organizations Hamper As in stocks food DiminishThe price of food increased, and humanitarian groups warned against mass deprivation and hunger.

In late May, the aid distribution system, which was widely criticized by Israel, and most of them managed by American contractors in the pocket. Young efforts Chaos in the nearby relief sites and violence.

According to the health authorities in Gaza, who do not distinguish between civilians and fighters, more than 55,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war since October 7, 2023.

Nir OZ has become a symbol of The 2023 attack scaleAnd that witnessed about one in four of about 400 residents in the village, either they were killed or kidnapped. In total, about 250 people, including foreign citizens, were consumed, as hostages on that day, and about 1,200 people were killed, according to the Israeli authorities.