The Return of Fallen Hostage Ilan Weiss
Ilan Weisswas deputy head of Kibbutz Be’eri’s emergency response team and its infrastructure manager. He was killed while rushing to open the armory and support the standby squad as terrorists stormed the community. His body was taken to Gaza, where it was held by the terrorist organization Hamas.
On October 7, terrorists also broke into the Weiss family home. His wife Shiri and daughter Noga were abducted to Gaza, while Noga, then 13, managed to escape through a shelter window after the house was set on fire. Shiri and Noga were released in the second stage of the hostage deal on November 25, 2023.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the return of Weiss’s body, calling him “a hero who was murdered on his way to defend his kibbutz.” He emphasized: “The struggle to bring the hostages home continues without pause – we will not rest until we return all of them, both the living and the fallen.”
Kibbutz Be’eri issued a statement: “We embrace Shiri and her three daughters – Meital, Maayan, and Noga – and the entire family. May there be comfort in knowing that Ilan will be laid to rest in the soil of Be’eri, which he loved so deeply and died defending.”
President Isaac Herzog said Weiss “showed courage when he set out to fight the terrorists,” and praised his wife and daughters “who demonstrated extraordinary strength in their battle for his return.” He added: “We will continue to act with all our strength to bring back all the hostages – the living for rehabilitation and the fallen for burial in Israel – until the last one.”
The Return of Fallen Hero Idan Shtivi
The IDF and ISA also recovered the body of Idan Shtivi, 28, who was murdered at the Nova music festival on October 7.
Shtivi was a talented sustainability and governance student, who acted heroically to help other festival-goers escape. He managed to flee the site and drive north with friends, but their car came under terrorist fire and was forced to turn south, where it was again attacked. His two friends’ bodies were discovered days later, but Shtivi remained missing until now. In January 2024, the IDF confirmed to his family that he had been taken to Gaza, and later informed them he was killed on the morning of October 7.
Netanyahu expressed condolences: “Idan was a gifted student and a man of courage. My wife and I send our heartfelt sympathies to the Shtivi family. I extend my deep appreciation to the IDF and Shin Bet for their determined and daring actions.”
Shtivi’s brother Omri described him as “a man who wanted to do good in the world.” A week before his abduction, he had adopted a new dog and was planning to join a volunteer mission in Africa to help children.
Defense Minister Israel Katz praised Shtivi’s bravery: “He acted with extraordinary courage when he saved strangers and helped them escape the massacre.” He also noted his personal connection to Idan’s father, Eli Shtivi, who dedicated himself to the fight for the hostages’ return.
Since the beginning of the war, 207 hostages have been returned to Israel – 148 alive, and the bodies of, now, 59. Forty-eight hostages remain in Gaza.
