Latest news with #YairYaakov
New York Post
21 hours ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Israel recovers bodies of two Hamas hostages in Gaza, including 59-year-old dad
The Israeli military recovered the bodies of two dead hostages in southern Gaza Wednesday night, including a 59-year-old dad who was killed during Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack. The Israel Defense Forces swept through an area of Khan Younis flagged by the Shin Bet intelligence agency, with soldiers finding the bodies of Yair Yaakov, 59, and another hostage who has yet to be publicly identified. 'Alongside the pain and mourning, we feel a measure of relief knowing that the two will be laid to rest with dignity — and that the unbearable suffering their loved ones have endured for 614 days may now be eased, if only slightly,' the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement. 3 The body of Yair Yaakov, 59, was recovered from southern Gaza Wednesday night. Instagram/@remember_yaya_7.10 3 Yaakov was killed during Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack, with Islamic Jihad gunmen ransacking his home. Instagram/@remember_yaya_7.10 Yaakov was killed by the Islamic Jihad terror group in Kibbutz Nir Oz during the Oct. 7 attack, with the gunmen taking his body back to Gaza. Yaakov's partner, Meirav Tal, and his sons, Or and Yagil, were also kidnapped in the terrorist attack, but they were eventually released during the November 2023 hostage exchange. While officials did not identify the other victim recovered from Khan Younis, they said the captive had been kidnapped from Nir Oz. Kibbutz Nir Oz was one of the worst-hit communities of the Oct. 7 attack, with Hamas terrorists killing 47 people and kidnapping another 76. 3 Yaakov's two sons were also kidnapped during the attack on Kibbutz Nir Oz. Instagram/@remember_yaya_7.10 'Together with all the citizens of Israel, my wife and I extend our heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their dearest,' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement. The operation came less than a week after the IDF recovered the bodies of Americans Judy Weinstein-Haggai, 70, and Gadi Haggai, 72, who were also killed during the attack in Nir Oz. The Israeli military has also located the body of Thai hostage Nattapong Pinta, who was working in an Israeli field when he was killed and kidnapped by Hamas. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz touted his military's expanded operation in Gaza for the recovery efforts, saying one of the goals of occupying the enclave was to return the bodies of the slain hostages. Israel estimates that there are still 53 hostages remaining in Gaza, only 20 of whom are believed to be alive.
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Israel-Hamas war: Israel recovers bodies of 2 hostages from Gaza; over 50 still held captive
Israel recovers bodies of 2 hostages from southern Gaza (AP) Israeli military confirmed the recovery of the bodies of two hostages from Gaza on Thursday. One of them was identified as Yair Yaakov, aged 59, who was killed during the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz described the recovery operation in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, as 'complex.' Yaakov's body was taken into Gaza after the October 7 attack. His partner and two children were also captured but were later released as part of a ceasefire deal. According to reports from the Associated Press, 148 hostages had been released through various exchanges and deals between Israel and Hamas. However, eight of those released were already dead. In addition, Israeli forces had retrieved the bodies of 46 hostages and successfully rescued eight others alive. The first phase of the ceasefire began on January 19 and involved several rounds of hostage-prisoner exchanges, but it collapsed after two months. On March 18, Israel resumed airstrikes in Gaza, effectively ending the truce. Currently, 53 hostages are still believed to be in captivity in Gaza. Of these, 30 are already dead according to Israeli Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had acknowledged uncertainty about the fate of several others. Among the hostages still held were four non-Israelis, two Thai nationals, one Tanzanian, and one Nepalese, three of whom had been confirmed dead. The war began after Hamas launched an attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, killing 1,218 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli government figures.
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Business Standard
a day ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Israeli forces recover bodies of two hostages after 613 days in captivity
One of the hostages was killed while defending his family during the Hamas-led abduction of Nir Oz residents on October 7. The identity of the second hostage has not been disclosed Apexa Rai New Delhi The bodies of two Israeli hostages, held in captivity for 613 days following their abduction during the October 7, 2023 Hamas -led terror assault, were recovered on June 11 in a joint Israeli military and intelligence operation in the southern Gaza Strip. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that the remains of Yair Yaakov, 59, and another hostage, whose identity was not revealed, were retrieved from Khan Younis. The recovery was executed by the army's 36th Division, aided by precise intelligence from the Military Intelligence Directorate, and Israel's internal security agency, the Shin Bet. Bodies of 2 Deceased Hostages Recovered The body of Yair Yaakov, as well as the body of another hostage, who were held hostage for 613 days in Gaza, have been recovered in a joint IDF and ISA military operation. Yair was brutally murdered by gunfire while heroically holding the… — Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 11, 2025 Yaakov was kidnapped from his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz and shot dead while attempting to shut the safe room door to protect his family. His sons, Or and Yagil, and partner Meirav Tal were also abducted but were released in a hostage deal in November 2023. The second recovered hostage was also abducted from Nir Oz and later killed. His family was notified following the identification of his body at the Abu Kabir National Institute of Forensic Medicine. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his condolences, stating: 'Together with all citizens of Israel, my wife and I extend our heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their dearest loved ones. We will not rest until we return all our hostages home, the living and the dead.' Grief and hope in Nir Oz Nir Oz was among the hardest-hit communities during the October 7 attacks, in which 47 residents were killed and 76 others abducted to Gaza. While several have since returned, four are currently presumed alive, and the bodies of five residents remain in Gaza. In a heartfelt social media post, Yair's son Yagil thanked Israeli forces for bringing back his father's remains and voiced hope for a resolution that 'doesn't endanger soldiers'. Israel mulls flexible truce deal Israel has formulated a response to the latest hostage-ceasefire proposal from Hamas, offering some flexibility in hostage release timelines and ceasefire duration, according to a Channel 12 News report. However, it still maintains its position of not ending the war entirely. The latest US-mediated proposal reportedly includes a 60-day truce, partial Israeli withdrawal, and increased humanitarian aid, in return for the release of 10 living hostages and 18 bodies. Hamas, however, demanded guarantees that would restrict Israel from resuming hostilities if permanent ceasefire talks fail to conclude by the truce's end. Some freed, many still captive At present, Gaza-based terror groups are believed to be holding 53 hostages, including 31 confirmed deceased and 20 thought to be alive, with two others in critical condition. Since the war began, eight hostages have been rescued alive, while 46 bodies have been recovered—three of whom were mistakenly killed by Israeli forces as they attempted to escape. Hamas has so far released 168 hostages, including civilians and foreign nationals, in various deals since October. In return, Israel freed approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. Among those still held is the body of Lt Hadar Goldin, an Israeli soldier killed in 2014, whose remains are also counted among the 53 hostages currently in Gaza.
The National
a day ago
- Politics
- The National
Israel recovers bodies of two Gaza hostages as Benjamin Netanyahu survives bid to collapse coalition
Israel's military and the Shin Bet intelligence agency have recovered the bodies of two hostages from Gaza, as the death toll from the war passes 55,100. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement on Wednesday that the body of Yair Yaakov had been retrieved, along with that of another hostage whose identity was not disclosed. The military said Palestinian Islamic Jihad abducted and killed Mr Yaakov during the attacks on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Militants also took Mr Yaakov's partner, Meirav Tal, and two of his children hostage, but later released them, the army said. Mr Yaakov was 59 at the time of his death. Israel said it retrieved the two bodies in the Khan Younis area of southern Gaza. They were recovered as Gaza's Health Ministry said the death toll from the war had passed 55,100, with more than 127,390 injured. Many more people are believed to be buried under rubble or in areas inaccessible to medics. Mr Netanyahu is under increasing pressure over the war. After 20 months of violence, 53 hostages are still in Gaza, with fewer than half believed to be alive. Israel 's military estimates that 40,000 armed Palestinian fighters remain in the enclave, according to media reports, despite Israel vowing to 'destroy' Hamas. Mr Netanyahu's coalition survived an opposition-backed effort to collapse the government early on Thursday, as lawmakers rejected a bill that could have paved the way for a dissolution of parliament and snap elections. Out of the Knesset's 120 members, 61 voted against the proposal, with 53 supporting it. The opposition introduced the bill hoping to force elections with the help of ultra-Orthodox parties angry at Mr Netanyahu over the contentious issue of military conscription for members of their community. While the opposition is composed mainly of centrist and leftist groups, ultra-Orthodox parties that prop up Mr Netanyahu's government had earlier threatened to back the motion. But most ultra-Orthodox lawmakers ultimately chose to oppose the effort to collapse the government, Israeli media reported on Thursday morning. The opposition will now have to wait six months to submit another dissolution bill. Mr Netanyahu's coalition, formed in December 2022, is one of the most right-wing in the country's history. It includes two ultra-Orthodox parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism. The parties threatened to back the push for early elections amid the row over conscription. Military service is mandatory in Israel, but under a ruling that dates back to the founding of the country – when ultra-Orthodox Jews were a small community – men who devote themselves full-time to the study of sacred texts are given a de facto pass. Whether that should change has been a long-running issue. Efforts to scrap the exemption and the anger that sparked have intensified during the war, as the military looks for more manpower. Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said on Wednesday that bringing down the government at a time of conflict would pose "an existential danger" to Israel's future. "History will not forgive anyone who drags the state of Israel into elections during a war," he told parliament, adding that there was a "national and security need" for the ultra-Orthodox to fight in the military. Twenty months into the Gaza war, negotiations over a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas remain deadlocked. A brief truce collapsed in March and Israel has since intensified operations to 'destroy' the group. Israel also faces immense international pressure over the humanitarian crisis in the enclave, where the UN has warned the entire population faces famine. Israel last month eased an aid blockade on Gaza. A convoy carrying hundreds of activists set off from Algeria this week en route for Gaza to challenge Israeli restrictions on aid. On Wednesday, the group arrived at the Egypt-Libya border and plans to enter the enclave at the Rafah crossing, travelling by cars and buses. The activists are expected to go to Cairo, before travelling to Rafah. It was not clear whether members of the convoy were able to cross into Egypt as of Wednesday night. But the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that foreign delegations needed to obtain approval before visiting the area bordering Gaza.
The Guardian
a day ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Middle East crisis: UN general assembly to vote on draft resolution demanding immediate ceasefire in Gaza
Update: Date: 2025-06-12T06:51:39.000Z Title: Yair Yaakov Content: Israel has recovered the remains of two more hostages in Gaza yesterday, AP reports. Israeli authorities identified one of the hostages recovered as who was killed during the 7 October 2023 attack and whose body was taken into Gaza. His partner and two children were also taken captive and released in a ceasefire deal early in the war. The second hostage's identity was not disclosed. Israeli defence minister Israel Katz said the bodies were retrieved in a 'complex' operation without disclosing details. The Israeli military said they were recovered from Khan Younis. Update: Date: 2025-06-12T06:47:27.000Z Title: The United Nations general assembly will vote later today on a draft resolution that demands an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in the war in', 'Gaza', 'after the US vetoed a similar effort in the security council last week, Reuters reports. Content: The United Nations general assembly will vote later today on a draft resolution that demands an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in the war in Gaza after the US vetoed a similar effort in the security council last week, Reuters reports. The 193-member general assembly is likely to adopt the text with overwhelming support, diplomats say, despite Israel lobbying countries this week against taking part in what it called a 'politically motivated, counter-productive charade'. General Assembly resolutions are not binding but carry weight as a reflection of the global view on the war. Previous demands by the body for an end to the war between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas have been ignored. Unlike the UN security council, no country has a veto in the General Assembly. Thursday's vote also comes ahead of a UN conference next week that aims to reinvigorate an international push for a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians. The US has urged countries not to attend. The US is drawing down the presence of staffers who are not deemed essential to operations in the Middle East and their loved ones due to the potential for regional unrest. The state department said yesterday that it's ordered the departure of all nonessential personnel from the US embassy in Baghdad. The department also is authorising the departure of nonessential personnel and family members from Bahrain and Kuwait, giving them the option to leave those countries. In addition, US Central Command said Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth 'has authorised the voluntary departure of military dependents from locations' across the Middle East. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hard-right government survived an opposition bid to dissolve parliament this morning, as lawmakers rejected a bill that could have paved the way for snap elections. Out of the Knesset's 120 members, 61 voted against the proposal, with 53 in favour. The opposition had introduced the bill hoping to force elections with the help of ultra-Orthodox parties in the governing coalition angry at Netanyahu over the contentious issue of exemptions from military service for their community. Hospitals said 21 people in Gaza were killed on their way to collect aid from food distribution sites on Wednesday. The Israeli army said it fired warning shots in central Gaza toward 'suspects that posed a threat to troops. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation accused Palestinian militant group Hamas of attacking aid workers en route to a distribution centre on Wednesday, saying at least five people were killed. 'We are still gathering facts, but what we know is devastating: there are at least five fatalities, multiple injuries, and fear that some of our team members may have been taken hostage,' GHF said in a statement. Israel's government is issuing 'clearly illegal' orders that must not be obeyed, a group of Israeli military intelligence officers have said, announcing they will no longer participate in combat operations in Gaza. In a letter addressed to Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, the defence minister, Israel Katz, and the head of the military, the group of 41 officers and reservists said the government was waging an 'unnecessary, eternal war' in Gaza.
