The remains of an Israeli hostage agent who spent almost two years in captivity in the Gaza Strip were found on Friday, the army of the country announced.
“The body of Ilan Weiss, which was held hostage in Gaza for 693 days, has been found in a joint Israeli defense forces and the military operation of the Israeli security agency,” said the IDF.
“Ilan came from Kibbutz Be’eri and left his house on the morning of 7 October to become a member of the Kibbutz -Noodhulp team. He was killed and abducted by Hamas during the massacre of October 7,” it added. “His wife Shiri, 54, and daughter Noga, 19, were held hostage in Gaza and released during the ceasefared -the imprisonment in November 2023.”
The body of a second Israeli was also recovered on Friday and is now working on identified process, according to the Associated Press.
Israel eliminates Gaza terrorist who participated in October. Attack on Kibbutz, Yarden Bibas took hostage
A poster by Israeli hostage Ilan Weiss, who was abducted on October 7, 2023, can be seen in Avignon, France, on April 27, 2025. (Nicolas Guyonnet/Hans Lucas via AFP/Getty images)
“It is a bittersweet moment that the Weiss family is reunited with their loved ones, although he does not return as they would have wanted,” became Rubi Chen, who believes that his son is still in captivity in Gaza, quoted by the AP.
Chen said his family had received intelligence that his son Itay did not survive the attack of 7 October, but Hamas has not provided any information about his son’s place of residence.
The Israeli hostages and the Missing Families Forum said: “Ilan was a dedicated family man – modest, principle and a devoted father for his daughters.”
“He loved organizing guests, taking care of his garden and enjoying a beer. During the weekend he went on mountain biking with his brother-in-law Gil Boyum, a fellow member of the Emergency team of Kibbutz who was also killed on that black Sabbath,” added it.
Israel restores the remains of three more bodies from Hamas: ‘No victory until the last hostage returns’
From Friday there are 48 hostages in Gaza, of whom there are alive according to 20, according to The times of Israel.
“I offer my sincere condolences and support to the Weiss family and the community of Kibbutz Be’eri after the restoration of the body of hostage Ilan Weiss, of blessed memory,” wrote Israeli President Isaac Herzog on X.
“Ilan showed courage and noble spirit when he fought against the terrorists against that dark day. In his death he gave life. And since then his family has shown extraordinary power in their struggle for his return,” Herzog continued.
Family members and supporters of hostages in the hands of Hamas in the Gaza Strip participate in a protest in which they are called for their release while marching in an area near the border of Israeli Gaza, in southern Israel, on Thursday 28 August 2025. (AP/Maya Levin)
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“The horrors committed by Hamas, murder, torture, kidnapping, his crimes against humanity. The world must show moral clarity, exert pressure and act for the immediate release of all hostages. We will not rest until each of them is brought home, the living in the loving embrace.
The Associated Press has contributed to this report.
