The Israeli military said on Wednesday it had retrieved the body of Itay Svirsky, who was taken hostage on Oct. 7, 2023, and then killed in Hamas captivity, according to a statement from the Israeli military.
A statement from the Hostages’ Families Forum said returning “Itay’s body for proper burial in Israel provides crucial closure for his family.”
A statement from the military said the family had been notified.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Svirsky’s body had been retrieved in a special operation and he thanked Israeli security forces.
“Our hearts are torn over the heavy loss of the Svirsky family,” Netanyahu said.
‘Highly probable’ 6 prior deaths ‘related’ to airstrike
The news came the same day that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) revealed that the deaths of six other hostages — whose bodies were recovered in August — were likely linked to an Israeli airstrike that occurred months earlier, near the area where they were being held.
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