The Israel Defense Forces announced Wednesday that it recovered the bodies of two more Israeli hostages from Gaza.
The IDF announced that it recovered the body of 59-year-old Yair Yaakov from the Khan Yunis area of the Gaza Strip. The other hostage’s name has not yet been released.
Yaakov is believed to have been abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023, by Islamic Jihad terrorists and taken to Gaza, where his body has remained for over 600 days. In February 2024, the kibbutz announced that Yaakov had been murdered in captivity.
AMERICAN HOSTAGE EDAN ALEXANDER REUNITES WITH PARENTS AFTER 584 DAYS IN HAMAS CAPTIVITY
His partner, Meirav Tal, and his children, Or and Yagil Yaakov—who were 12 and 16 at the time—were also taken, but were released in the November 2023 hostage agreement.
Three other bodies of hostages were recovered in the past seven days, including Israeli-American couple Judith Weinstein-Haggai and Gadi Haggai, as well as Thai national Nattapong Pinta. The recoveries come as Israel and Hamas continue to negotiate a ceasefire, with Hamas using hostage bodies as a bargaining chip.
The body of the father of three was recovered by the IDF troops of the Southern Command and underwent an identification procedure by the National Institute of Forensic Medicine in cooperation with the Israel Police, according to the IDF.
INTERNET TROLLS CONVINCE THEMSELVES THAT VIDEO OF GAZANS CHEERING U.S. AID IS FAKE
“Together with all citizens of Israel, my wife and I convey our heartfelt condolences to the families that have lost what is dearest to them,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement. “I thank the fighters and commanders for another successful operation in the sacred mission to return our hostages.”
The return of the two bodies brings the total number of hostages remaining in Gaza to 53.
“We will neither rest nor be silent until we return home all of our hostages – the living and the deceased,” Netanyahu added.
About a quarter of Kibbutz Nir Oz’s 400 residents were murdered or taken hostage by terrorists on October 7.
DONALD TRUMP HAS A RECOMMENDATION FOR GRETA THUNBERG AFTER HER ‘SELFIE FLOTILLA’
Yagil mourned his father on Instagram on Wednesday.
“I’m sad to say this – I’m already waiting for your funeral. I knew this day would come,” the teenager wrote. “Thank you to the IDF and Shin Bet forces for the rescue. I hope we get the rest in a deal that won’t put soldiers at risk.”
Yaakov’s daughter, Shir, 22, was reportedly saved by terrorists failing to break into her apartment in the kibbutz six times, reported The Jerusalem Post.
Yaakov was described as a “humble, simple man, who loved his family and music” and worked in both agriculture and a Kibbutz Alumim garage, by Kibbutz Nir Oz.
Gift Dad an All Access Membership. Use code DAD40 at checkout to save 40%!
“This is a much-needed closure, so that we can begin to look forward,” the Yaakov family said in a statement, reported The Jerusalem Post. “We thank from the bottom of our hearts the security forces and the brave soldiers who took part in the complex rescue operation. However, we reiterate our position – the lives of soldiers should not be at stake. The hostages must be returned in a deal that prevents further danger to the soldiers or the captives.”