The Israeli Army today confirmed the rescue during the night in Khan Yunis, in the south of the Gaza Strip, of the body of the kidnapped Elad Katzir, who had been in the hands of the Islamic Jihad. According to intelligence services, Katzir “was murdered in captivity by the terrorist organization,” a military statement confirmed.
A military officer has explained that the victim’s body showed evidence that she had been murdered by her captors, without giving further details, and that her death probably occurred in mid-January. Her body was located based on “precise intelligence information from the Israel Defense Forces and the Shin Bet security agency,” which allowed ground troops to locate it and return the body to Israeli territory. Doctors from the Institute of Forensic Medicine identified him during the night and the family was later informed of the discovery.
During the October 7 massacre, Elad Katzir was kidnapped by Islamic Jihad at Kibbutz Nir Oz, along with his mother, Hanna, who was released on November 24 as part of the agreement for the release of hostages, while his father , Rami, was murdered in the kibbutz. “Our mission is to locate and return the abductees home. The IDF and the Shin Bet are working in full coordination with the relevant national and security agencies and will continue until the task is completed,” the Army said.
However, the Forum of Families of Hostages and Abductees stated that the return of Katzir’s body is “a painful, immediate and harsh reminder that time is up for the hostages” and demanded that the War Cabinet reach a truce agreement that allow the release of the hostages. “The State of Israel cannot begin the rehabilitation process if the 133 hostages are abandoned. We do not have a single day to lose,” they stated.
In December, Islamic Jihad released a propaganda video showing Katzir and another hostage, Gadi Mozes, alive. “Elad Katzir was a smiling man, from his land, who brightened the days of everyone around him. A family man, loved by his friends and a member of his kibbutz,” the sister posted on Facebook. of him Carmit. Kibbutz spokesman Nir Oz, where he lived, also remembered him as a “man of laughter, hugs and joy” who was especially loved by all residents of the community, especially children.
Of the 253 kidnapped on October 7, 129 captives remain in the enclave, around thirty of them dead according to Israel – more than 70 according to Hamas -; while there have been four other hostages for years, two of them dead.
Since the war began, Israel and Hamas only reached a one-week truce agreement in late November, which allowed the release of 105 hostages in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners. Additionally, four hostages were released by Hamas in October; three rescued by the Army -two of them a few weeks ago in a successful operation in Rafah-; while the bodies of twelve hostages have been recovered, three of whom Israeli troops killed by mistake.
