Body of Hostage Killed By Terrorists Recovered in Gaza

IDF commando soldiers rescued the body of Elad Katzir, 47, who was taken hostage by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) from his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz on Simchas Torah.

The operation to rescue his body was carried out based on intelligence received about the burial location in Khan Yunis (near Gush Katif, in Gaza), immediately after the information was confirmed.

There were no injuries to troops during the operation, as no fighting occurred at the burial site, only in the surrounding areas.

Elad was seen in two PIJ propaganda videos, the last one in December. The IDF estimates that the terrorist captors murdered him in mid-January. Elad’s father, Avraham Katzir, was murdered in the kibbutz on Simchas Torah. His elderly mother, Chana Katzir, was taken hostage and released on November 24th.

Elad was a farmer and his parents’ primary caregiver. He was known for his good humor and care for everyone around him.

In a statement, the IDF said, “The body of the abductee Elad Katzir, who according to intelligence was murdered in captivity by the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization, was rescued overnight from Khan Yunis and returned to Israeli territory. His body was located based on precise IDF and ISA intelligence, and an accurate identification of IDF ground troops.

“Following an identification procedure carried out overnight by medical officials at the Institute of Forensic Medicine, IDF and ISA representatives informed Elad Katzir’s family that his body had been rescued. The IDF expresses their deepest condolences to the family.”

Hashem Yikdam Damam