Israeli forces have retrieved the bodies of five individuals taken hostage in the Gaza Strip during Hamas’ October 7 attack on southern Israel, the military announced on Thursday.
The military identified the recovered bodies as those of hostage Maya Goren and soldiers Ravid Aryeh Katz, Oren Goldin, Tomer Ahimas, and Kiril Brodski. The operation took place on Wednesday in Khan Yunis, the main city in the southern Gaza Strip.
The military confirmed that the four soldiers were killed during the October 7 attack by Hamas militants. In December, the military had previously announced the death of Maya Goren, who had been abducted and taken to Gaza on the same date.
The announcement comes after two Israeli kibbutzim, Nir Oz and Nir Yitzhak, separately confirmed the recovery of the bodies of Goren and Goldin. “Last night, we were informed that in a military rescue operation, the body of the late Maya Goren was recovered,” said kibbutz Nir Oz, adding that her family had been informed and more details would follow. Later, kibbutz Nir Yitzhak reported that the body of Goldin had also been returned.
“Last night, we were informed that in a military rescue operation, the body of the late Maya Goren was recovered,” kibbutz Nir Oz stated, adding that her family had been informed and more information would follow. Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak also reported that the army had returned the body of Goldin, stating, “This evening, we were informed about the rescue operation for the late Oren Goldin, a member of the kibbutz emergency team, who fell on October 7 during the attack by Hamas militants.”
On October 7, Hamas militants attacked southern Israeli communities, resulting in the deaths of 1,197 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. Militants also seized 251 hostages, 111 of whom remain in Gaza, including 39 whom the military reports as deceased.
Israel’s retaliatory military campaign in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of at least 39,145 people, also mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.
