GAZA CITY — The Israeli military has confirmed the recovery of the bodies of five hostages taken during Hamas’s October 7 assault on southern Israel, highlighting the grim reality of the ongoing conflict.
The recovered bodies include those of Maya Goren, a kindergarten teacher, and soldiers Major Ravid Aryeh Katz, Master Sergeant Oren Goldin, Staff Sergeant Tomer Ahimas, and Sergeant Kiril Brodski. The bodies were located in an operation conducted in the Khan Younis area of southern Gaza.
The Israeli military has stated that Goren was killed while in captivity, and the soldiers were initially killed in combat on October 7 before being abducted by Hamas. The recovery leaves 111 of the 251 people taken hostage still held by Hamas, with 39 presumed dead.
In a speech to the U.S. Congress on Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the ongoing efforts to secure the release of the hostages but provided no new insights into potential negotiation outcomes. His remarks were met with disappointment by opposition leaders and the families of the hostages, who criticized the lack of progress and expressed frustration at the government’s handling of the situation.
Following the announcement, the kibbutzim of Nir Oz and Nir Yitzhak confirmed that the bodies of Goren and Sgt. Goldin had been recovered. The joint statement from the IDF and Shin Bet emphasized their commitment to continuing operations to rescue the remaining hostages and dismantle Hamas’s infrastructure.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum lauded the military’s actions as a crucial step toward closure for the affected families and called for expedited negotiations with Hamas. They urged Prime Minister Netanyahu to promptly dispatch a negotiating team to Qatar, although Israeli officials indicated that the team’s departure might be delayed until after Netanyahu’s meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden.
On the ground in Gaza, the conflict remains intense. Israeli forces continue operations against Hamas targets in Khan Younis, with recent airstrikes resulting in additional casualties. According to Palestinian news sources, at least six people were killed in strikes on Wednesday, including four in Jourat al-Loot and two in Bani Suhaila.
The United Nations estimates that over 150,000 people have been displaced from Khan Younis since Israel’s evacuation orders, reflecting the severe humanitarian impact of the conflict. The ongoing Israeli military campaign, launched in response to the October 7 attacks, has resulted in significant casualties, with Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry reporting over 39,170 deaths to date.
