Israel recovers bodies of 2 hostages from Gaza Strip: ‘May their memory be blessed’

Israel on Thursday recovered the bodies of two hostages who were abducted in the Oct massacre that ignited the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote on X that the remains of Gadi Haggai and Judy Weinstein-Haggai had been returned in a special operation by the army and the Shin Bet internal protection agency Together with all the citizens of Israel my wife and I extend our heartfelt condolences to the dear families Our hearts ache for the majority terrible loss May their memory be fortunate Netanyahu announced in a message TRUMP ADMIN STANDS BY ISRAEL REJECTS UN RESOLUTION BACKED BY UK FRANCEKibbutz Nir Oz revealed the deaths of Weinstein and Haggai both in their early s in December The couple were taking an early morning walk near their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz on the morning of Oct when Hamas militants burst across the demarcation into Israel killing about people mostly civilians and abducting In the early hours of the morning Weinstein was able to call urgency services and let them know that both she and her husband had been shot and send a message to her family KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THE ISRAELI MILITARY'S ASSESSMENT ON WHAT HAPPENED ON OCT The couple were survived by two sons and two daughters and seven grandchildren the kibbutz stated The rescue operation was conducted by IDF troops in coordination with the Intelligence Directorate and special forces The operation was made realizable as a development of precise intelligence provided by the Hostage Task Force the Intelligence Directorate and the ISA HAMAS CASUALTIES ARIEL AND KFIR BIBAS COULD'VE BEEN ME OR MAYBE YOUFollowing an identification procedure carried out by the National Institute of Forensic Medicine the Israel Police and the IDF Manpower Directorate's Hostage Task Force the family and the neighborhood of Nir Oz were notified The Hostages and Missing Families Forum called the couples' return pain and heartbreaking Y et it also brings healing to our uncertainty 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 revealed We want to emphasize in current times a grave is not a privilege A grave is a basic human right without which personal and national recovery is impossible The Forum called upon leaders on both sides to reach an agreement to bring all remaining hostages the living for rehabilitation and the deceased for burial There is no need to wait another agonizing days for this The mission can be completed as early as on the morrow morning This is what the majority of the Israeli people want the Forum disclosed We want to emphasize nowadays a grave is not a privilege A grave is a basic human right without which personal and national recovery is impossible