Israel Announces Major Assault on Gaza City as Remains of Deceased Hostage Ilan Weiss Recovered After 692 Days
In a significant development, the Israeli military retrieved the body of one hostage, identified as Ilan Weiss from Kibbutz Be’eri, and the remains of another yet to be identified, on Friday. This recovery came amidst Israel declaring Gaza City a “high-risk combat zone,” signaling an impending major offensive.
Weiss’ family had been in limbo since his kidnapping alongside his wife and daughter during the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023. They were released during the first ceasefire in November but fears of Weiss’ survival persisted until Kibbutz Be’eri announced his death in January 2024, following an attack on the community, with his body assumed to be taken into Gaza.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) did not disclose the location where the remains were found within Gaza. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum expressed their grief yet felt a sense of comfort for Weiss’ family after 692 days of agonizing uncertainty.
With the recovery of these two deceased hostages, there are now 48 hostages still held in Gaza, with 20 believed to be alive. The humanitarian crisis and starvation within Gaza have escalated significantly, with the Palestinian Ministry of Health reporting a death toll of 63,025 people and 159,490 injured since the conflict began. The ministry further stated that hospitals continue to record daily deaths due to famine and malnutrition, many of them children.
In response to growing international concern over the worsening humanitarian situation, Israel recently declared Gaza City a “dangerous combat zone,” signifying an end to the tactical pauses in military activity within the area. The 10-hour pauses, instituted a month ago for humanitarian purposes, are no longer applicable.
The escalation in military operations has forced Palestinians to flee from neighborhoods on the outskirts of Gaza City towards its center. Dr. Munir al-Bursh, Director-General of the Palestinian Ministry of Health, reported that the population density in Gaza City had reached 60,000 people per one square kilometer.
Social media footage depicted the aftermath of a large strike in the Jabalya neighborhood on the northern edge of Gaza City. Faris Afaneh, director of ambulance and emergency services in northern Gaza, reported that Israeli attacks had killed and injured Palestinians, forcing them to evacuate during this massive and unprecedented campaign.
Israeli drones have been dropping leaflets over several areas in and around Gaza City, warning residents to evacuate immediately from specific locations due to the expansion of Israeli operations towards the west. Some residents heeded the warnings, while others chose to remain in their damaged homes despite fears of further escalation.