BREAKING: Two Hostages’ Bodies Recovered - IDF’s Heroic Gaza Mission
The IDF and Shin Bet successfully recovered the body of Ilan Weiss, a heroic Kibbutz Be’eri resident killed by Hamas on October 7, 2023, along with remains of another unidentified hostage from Gaza.
In a daring operation on August 29, 2025, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Shin Bet retrieved the body of Ilan Weiss, a 55-year-old resident of Kibbutz Be’eri, who was killed by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023, during their brutal assault on southern Israel. Weiss, a deputy leader of the kibbutz’s civilian emergency response team, was murdered while rushing to open the armoury to protect his community. His body was abducted to Gaza, along with his wife, Shiri, and daughter, Noga, who were freed in November 2023 under the “Heaven’s Gates” hostage release agreement.
The operation, executed by IDF Southern Command, special forces, and Shin Bet with precise intelligence from the Hostages Headquarters and Military Intelligence Directorate, also recovered remains believed to belong to another fallen hostage, currently under identification at the National Institute of Forensic Medicine. The families and Be’eri community have been informed.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the mission, stating, “In an IDF and Shin Bet operation in the Gaza Strip, the body of Ilan Weiss, may his memory be blessed, held by the murderous Hamas terror organization, was returned to Israel. Additional remains of another fallen hostage, whose name has not yet been cleared for publication, were also retrieved.” He continued, “Ilan Weiss, a heroic fighter, was a member of Kibbutz Be’eri’s emergency response team. He was murdered on October 7, 2023, while defending the kibbutz, and his body was abducted. My wife and I extend our deepest condolences to the families and share in their profound grief. I thank our commanders and fighters for their successful operation, their determination, and their courage. We will not rest or be silent until we bring all our hostages home, the living and the fallen alike.”
Defense Minister Israel Katz added, “In a heroic operation led by the IDF and Shin Bet, the body of Ilan Weiss, may his memory be blessed, a Be’eri resident murdered and abducted by Hamas killers on October 7, was returned to Israel, along with remains of another hostage whose name has not yet been cleared. Ilan heroically led the kibbutz’s defense, preventing an even greater disaster. On behalf of the entire defense establishment, I send deep condolences to his family. I express profound appreciation to our heroic fighters who risk their lives day and night to bring all hostages home, living and fallen. We will not rest until all are returned; this is the primary goal of the upcoming manoeuvre.”
The IDF declared, “The IDF extracted the body of hostage Ilan Weiss, may his memory be blessed, and retrieved remains linked to another fallen hostage, whose name has not yet been cleared, from the Gaza Strip. The complex operation was enabled by precise intelligence from the Hostages Headquarters, Military Intelligence Directorate, and Shin Bet.” Of the 251 hostages abducted on October 7, 2023, approximately 53 remain in Gaza, with at least 20 believed to be alive.