Who Was Hostage Ilan Weiss? Father’s Body Recovered After 692 Days

Ilan Weiss, a 55-year-old father of three and deputy head of Kibbutz Be’eri’s emergency response team, was brought home to Israel on August 29, 2025, 692 days after his murder by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023. Known for his quiet strength and deep commitment to his community, Weiss was a cornerstone of Be’eri, a kibbutz of 1,200 residents near the Gaza border. On that fateful morning, as sirens blared at 7:15 a.m., Weiss grabbed the armory keys and ran to arm the kibbutz’s defenders, sacrificing his life to protect his neighbors.

His body was abducted to Gaza, and for months, he was listed as missing until intelligence confirmed his death. His wife, Shiri, 53, a social worker known for her warmth, and their youngest daughter, Noga, 18, an aspiring artist with a passion for music, were kidnapped from their home and held captive for 50 days before their release in November 2023 under the “Heaven’s Gates” deal, alongside 10 other hostages. Weiss’s older daughters, Meital, 27, a teacher, and Maayan, 24, a university student, were not at home during the attack but have been vocal advocates for hostage recovery.

The IDF and Shin Bet, guided by precise intelligence from the Hostages Headquarters and Military Intelligence Directorate, recovered Weiss’s body and remains of another unidentified hostage in a complex operation in Gaza. The second hostage’s identity is under verification at the National Institute of Forensic Medicine. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced, “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. 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.”

Kibbutz Be’eri mourned, stating, “We grieve and share in the profound sorrow of Ilan Weiss’s family, hoping there is comfort in this difficult time, knowing Ilan will be buried in the Be’eri soil he loved and died defending. Ilan was a principled and humble man, deeply involved in kibbutz life and highly respected.” Shiri and Noga, who have shared their harrowing captivity experiences publicly, described hiding in their safe room for hours before being dragged to Gaza. Of the 251 hostages taken on October 7, 2023, about 53 remain in Gaza, with 20 believed alive, per recent estimates.