A body of a hostage held captive in Gaza has been recovered: IDF report

The Israeli Defense Forces announced Saturday that a body of one of the hostages taken by Hamas has been recovered. 

"The body of hostage Elad Katzir was rescued by security forces overnight from Khan Yunis and returned to Israeli territory," the IDF wrote on the social media platform, X.

Katzir was taken by the terrorist group Hamas that attacked Israel on Oct. 7, which started the ongoing war in Gaza. 

“Elad Katzir was abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz by the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization during the October 7 Massacre,” the IDF post continued. “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 IDF concluded the social media post by saying they will continue to find and bring the remaining hostages home.

“We will continue to operate until it is complete," they wrote. 

The announcement comes amid increased tensions between the Biden administration, which is seeking a temporary ceasefire in the war to allow more aid into Gaza for civilians caught up in the fighting and for the release of more of the hostages, and the Israeli government which insists it plans to finish the mission of destroying Hamas and freeing the hostages. Israel has agreed to a temporary ceasefire and an exchange of prisoners held in Israel for hostages held in Gaza, but the parties involved have not been able to reach terms agreeable to both sides.