Israel Retrieves Bodies of 2 Hostages from Gaza Strip Amid Ongoing Tensions

Israel announced on Thursday that it has recovered the bodies of two hostages, Gadi Haggai and Judy Weinstein-Haggai, who were abducted during the Oct. 7, 2023 massacre that sparked the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. The remains were returned to their families following a special operation carried out by the Israeli military in collaboration with the Shin Bet internal security agency.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement sending his condolences to the families, saying, "Together with all the citizens of Israel, my wife and I extend our heartfelt condolences to the dear families. Our hearts ache for the most terrible loss. May their memory be blessed." The successful recovery has brought closure to a story that had gripped the nation since the tragic events of last October.

Haggai and Weinstein-Haggai were both in their early 70s and residents of Kibbutz Nir Oz. On the morning of October 7, they were out for an early walk near their home when Hamas militants crossed into Israel. That day saw some of the deadliest violence in recent Israeli history—approximately 1,200 people were killed, most of them civilians, and 251 individuals were taken hostage.

Weinstein managed to contact emergency services and alert her family, stating that both she and her husband had been shot. Despite efforts to locate them, confirmation of their deaths was not made until December 2023. The couple is survived by two sons, two daughters, and seven grandchildren, according to their kibbutz community.

The retrieval operation was spearheaded by IDF troops working closely with the Intelligence Directorate and special forces units. The mission reportedly relied on precise intelligence provided by the Hostage Task Force and other national security agencies. After a thorough identification process led by the National Institute of Forensic Medicine, the Israel Police, and the IDF Manpower Directorate, the families and community were officially notified.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum described the return of the couple’s remains as both "pain and heartbreaking," but also said it brought a measure of relief to the uncertainty that had cast a shadow over their loved ones. "Their return reminds us all that it is the state’s duty to bring everyone home, so that we, the families, together with all the people of Israel, can begin the process of healing and recovery," the Forum said.

"We want to emphasize today—a grave is not a privilege. A grave is a basic human right, without which personal and national recovery is impossible," the Forum continued, calling on leaders to reach an agreement to return all 56 remaining hostages. The organization stressed that there should be no further delay, adding: "This is what the majority of the Israeli people want."