This undated photo provided by The Hostages Families Forum Headquarters on August 30, 2025, shows Israeli hostage Idan Shtivi (28) whose body was recovered in an Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip.
| Photo Credit: AP
Israel identified the body of hostage Idan Shtivi, recovered from the Gaza Strip in a military operation this week that retrieved the remains of two hostages, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahuâs office said on Saturday (August 30, 2025).
Mr. Netanyahuâs office had announced on Friday (August 29, 2025) the retrieval of Ilan Weissâs body along with the remains of another hostage, whose identity is now known to be that of Shtivi but had not been disclosed at the time.
With Weiss and Shtiviâs bodies recovered, Israel says 48 hostages remain in Gaza, of whom only 20 are believed to be alive.
âIdan Shtivi was abducted from the Tel Gama area and brutally murdered by Hamas terrorists after acting to rescue and evacuate others from the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023. He was 28 years old at the time of his death,â the Israeli military said on Saturday (August 30, 2025) in a statement.
Around 1,200 people were killed and about 251 taken hostage when the Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked Israeli southern communities in October 2023, Israelâs tallies show.
Gazaâs Health Ministry says Israelâs subsequent military assault has killed over 63,000 Palestinians. The war has displaced nearly the enclaveâs entire population, devastated infrastructure, and triggered a humanitarian crisis.
Published â August 31, 2025 05:49 am IST
