[Seoul Shinmun Now News] Israeli forces said on the 18th (local time) that they have recovered the body of an additional hostage during operations in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli Defense Forces spokesman Senior Daniel Haggari stated at a press conference on the same day that the body of a male hostage was found in the Gaza Strip, and it was confirmed to be Ron Ben Yamin (53), who was captured by Hamas last October.
Ben Yamin, who was on an overseas trip when Hamas launched a surprise attack on October 7 last year, sent a voice message to his two daughters near the Gaza Strip separation barrier, saying that he was riding a bicycle and heading back home before losing contact.
Israeli forces believe that Ben Yamin was killed by Hamas militants at that time and was transferred to the Gaza Strip in a state of death.
Previously, the Israeli military also announced that they had recovered the bodies of three individuals, Shani Luke (22), Amat Buskila (28), and Itzhak Galerente (56), during operations in the Gaza Strip. These three were identified as being killed by Hamas militants at the Super Nova music festival venue and their bodies were brought to the Gaza Strip.
Haggari, the spokesperson, did not disclose the exact location where their bodies were found in the previous statement but mentioned that they were recovered during a joint operation between the Israeli military and Shin Bet intelligence agency.
According to Axios reporter Barak Ravid citing Haggari, the bodies were found in an underground tunnel in the Gaza Strip.
During the surprise attack by Hamas last October 7, the body of a woman in her 20s who was dragged by Hamas militants in a vehicle while naked was discovered. Her father, Nissim Luke, told Israeli media that the Israeli soldiers found his daughter’s body in a relatively deep tunnel in Gaza and that her body was in good condition due to the cold temperatures in the area.
Among the more than 250 hostages abducted by Hamas, approximately 100 were released temporarily during a ceasefire in November last year. However, the remaining 130 individuals have yet to return after 225 days of war, of which about 30 are presumed to have died, according to the Israeli military.