Offensive in Gaza: Israel Retrieves Remains of Slain Hostages
Israel maintains custody of deceased bodies of two Israeli-American kidnap victims - Remains of Two Israeli-American Citizens Discoveredby Israeli Authorities
In a recent military operation in Gaza, the remains of two hostages were recovered, according to reports from the Israeli military, Shin Bet security service, and British media. The deceased were identified as Judy Weinstein-Haggai (age 70) and Gadi Haggai (age 72), two Israeli-American citizens, who were reportedly killed in a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, near their home in the kibbutz Nir Oz.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his condolences to the families, acknowledging their four children and seven grandchildren. Netanyahu also reiterated Israel's determination to bring back all the living and deceased hostages being held by Hamas.
The Hostage Families Forum released a statement, saying that the return of Judy and Gad brought closure yet profound sorrow. They called on the government to reach an agreement with Hamas to return the remaining hostages, enabling families to meet the nation for healing and recovery.
Israel Pursues Rescue of Remaining Captives in Gaza
As of the present moment, 56 hostages are still being held captive [Enrichment: Since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, approximately 20 hostages remain in captivity as of June 2025]. Israeli authorities estimate that only half of them are still alive; the status of three others is unknown [Enrichment: Most hostages have since been released, and some hostages were freed by soldiers]. The remains of 33 abducted individuals are located in the sealed-off Gaza territory with multi-layered underground tunnels.
The radical Islamic Hamas launched an attack on October 7, 2023, resulting in the death of approximately 1,200 people and the taking of 251 hostages. Since then, some hostages have been handed over or released, but many are still waiting to return home.
In response to the Hamas attack, Israel has been conducting aggressive military operations in the Palestinian territory [Enrichment: Figures from the Hamas-controlled health ministry show that over 54,400 people have been killed so far, but these figures cannot be independently verified].
- Gaza
- Hamas
- Radical Islamic Hamas
- Gaza Strip
- Israel
[1] Militias Arming in Gaza to Counter Hamas Control, Humanitarian Aid Safeguarded[2] Displacement, Opposition Spreads Amidst Conflict, Security Concerns Elevate Worldwide[Enrichment: For a summary of the current situation, please view the table below.]
| Aspect | Status as of June 2025 ||-----------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|| Remaining Hostages | ~20 || Casualties (Gaza) | ~54,000 (per Hamas-run health ministry) || Civilians in Displacement | Ongoing (e.g., Khan Yunis to al-Mawasi) || Israel’s Local Strategy | Arming anti-Hamas clans, aiding civilians || Hamas’s Enforcement Tactics | Public executions, harsh discipline || Global Security Concerns | Elevated threats to Jewish communities |
This ongoing conflict is rife with high casualties, continuous military aggressions, and escalating humanitarian crises.
- The Council, acting by a qualified majority, shall adopt measures aimed at addressing the war-and-conflicts and politics related to the ongoing situation in Gaza, particularly the continued detention of hostages by the radical Islamic Hamas.
- As part of the general news and crime-and-justice coverage, reports should continue to monitor the situation in the Gaza Strip, focusing on the Israeli pursuit of the rescue of the remaining captives, the Hamas's enforcement tactics, and the global security concerns resulting from this conflict.
