The body of hostage Elad Katzir, who the Gaza-based Islamic Jihad abducted during the October 7 attack, has been rescued from the Khan Yunis and returned to Israeli territory, authorities said Saturday.
“Elad Katzir was abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz by the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization during the October 7 Massacre. His mother, Hanna, was also abducted by IJ and released on November 24, and his father, Avraham, was murdered in the kibbutz. According to intelligence, Elad was murdered by IJ in captivity,” the Israel Defence Forces said in a post on X.
The body of hostage Elad Katzir was rescued by security forces overnight from Khan Yunis and returned to Israeli territory.Elad Katzir was abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz by the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization during the October 7 Massacre. His mother, Hanna, was also…
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) April 6, 2024
Breaking: The body of the late Elad Katzir abductee, who according to intelligence information was murdered in captivity by the GAP terrorist organization, was rescued tonight from Khan Yunis in an operation by the commando formation under the direction of the General Security… pic.twitter.com/sUbBg41Zjn— Rubi Yona רובי יונה (@RubiYona) April 6, 2024
The IDF said 47-year-old Elad’s abduction had deeply affected his family, with his mother, Hanna, also abducted and later released and his father, Avraham, killed in the initial attack. Israeli intelligence reports suggest that Elad was murdered by the Islamic Jihad in captivity, according to The Times of Israel. “Our mission since the beginning of the war has been, and remains, to locate and bring the hostages home. We will continue to operate until it is complete,” the IDF said.
Half a year into Israel’s war, agonised families of hostages caught in Gaza are in a race against time. In November, a weeklong cease-fire deal saw the release of more than 100 hostages. However, the war is dragging on, with no end in sight and no hostage deal on the table. Israel believes about a quarter of the remaining hostages are dead, and divisions are deepening in Israel over the best way to bring the rest home.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised to both eliminate Hamas and bring all the hostages back, but he’s made little progress. He faces pressure to resign, and the U.S. has threatened to scale back its support over the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Israelis are divided into two main camps: those who want the government to put the war on hold and free the hostages, and others who think the hostages are an unfortunate price to pay for eradicating Hamas.
(With agency inputs)
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