The Israeli military has announced the recovery of the bodies of five Israelis who were taken as hostages during Hamas’s attack on southern Israel on October 7. The deceased include kindergarten teacher Maya Goren, and soldiers Sergeant Major Ravid Aryeh Katz, Master Sergeant Oren Goldin, Staff Sergeant Tomer Ahimas, and Sergeant Kiril Brodski. Their remains were discovered in a Hamas tunnel located in Khan Younis, an area previously designated by the Israeli military as a humanitarian zone.
IDF recover the bodies of 5 Israelis in Khan Yunis, Gaza.
The body of Maya Goren, a kindergarten teacher taken hostage on Oct 7, was recovered alongside the bodies of four fallen soldiers.
🇮🇱Oren Goldin
🇮🇱Tomer Ahimas
🇮🇱Kiril Brodski
🇮🇱Ravid Aryeh Katz
The soldiers fell… pic.twitter.com/v06qKHkuZp
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) July 25, 2024
According to the military, Maya Goren was killed while in captivity, whereas the soldiers died in combat on October 7 before their bodies were abducted. This recovery leaves 111 of the 251 hostages still unaccounted for, including 39 presumed dead by the military. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the issue of the remaining hostages during a speech to the U.S. Congress but did not provide any details on potential negotiations with Hamas for their release in exchange for a ceasefire or prisoner exchange. His speech left families and friends of the hostages without the reassurance they were hoping for, leading to public criticism and frustration, including from opposition leader Yair Lapid and relatives of the hostages.
The discovery of the bodies was confirmed by a joint statement from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Israel Security Agency, also known as the Shin Bet. The operation uncovered a tunnel approximately 200 meters long and 20 meters deep, with several rooms where the hostages had been held. The military condemned Hamas for using a designated humanitarian area to conceal their activities.
#BREAKING | IDF troops recover body of hostage Maya Goren, 56, from Gaza
“After more than nine months, she was brought home for burial,” Kibbutz Nir Oz said in a statement.https://t.co/f4NpX58Q8M pic.twitter.com/y1RUN0KcN4
— Jewish News Syndicate (@JNS_org) July 24, 2024
As the situation unfolds, the IDF continues its operations in Khan Younis, targeting what it describes as terrorist infrastructure and operatives. The military claims to have killed dozens of Palestinian fighters in recent days, while the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reports over 150,000 people have fled the area, with significant casualties from Israeli air and artillery strikes.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum praised the recovery of the bodies, emphasizing the importance of providing closure to the families and calling for the immediate return of all remaining hostages. They urged Prime Minister Netanyahu to expedite negotiations for the hostages’ release, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
Israeli forces retrieved the bodies of five people taken hostage in the #Gaza Strip during Hamas’s October 7 attack on southern Israel, the military said Thursday. pic.twitter.com/soPJfRbjJr
— Al-Estiklal English (@alestiklalen) July 25, 2024
Major Points:
- The bodies of five Israeli hostages, including a kindergarten teacher and four soldiers, were recovered from a Hamas tunnel in Khan Younis.
- The Israeli military continues operations in Gaza, targeting terrorist infrastructure and operatives.
- Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech to the U.S. Congress did not provide new information on a potential hostage deal.
- Families and friends of hostages express frustration and demand action for their release.
- The Hostages and Missing Families Forum urges immediate negotiations for the release of all remaining hostages.
Kirk Volo – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
