The IDF and Shin Bet retrieved the body of Kibbutz Be’eri hero Ilan Weiss, murdered on October 7, as leaders vow to continue the mission of bringing every hostage—living or fallen—back home.
In a deeply emotional development, the IDF and Shin Bet announced the recovery of the body of Ilan Weiss, 55, who was murdered during Hamas’s brutal October 7th assault on Kibbutz Be’eri.
On that dark day, Weiss—deputy head of the kibbutz emergency team—ran to the weapons storage room to defend his community when terrorists struck. He was killed in the line of duty, and his body was abducted into Gaza. His wife, Shiri, and daughter, Noga, were also taken hostage but released in the first prisoner deal.
The military confirmed that the recovery was made possible through precise intelligence and a complex joint operation involving Southern Command forces, the Intelligence Directorate, the ISA, and special units. The remains of another hostage were also retrieved, though identification is still pending.
The National Center for Forensic Medicine formally identified Weiss’s remains and notified his family and the Be’eri community.
Defense Minister Israel Katz paid tribute:
“Ilan, of blessed memory, courageously led the defensive battle in Be’eri, preventing a greater disaster. We will not rest until every hostage returns home.”
President Isaac Herzog called the moment “one of deep sorrow, but also of closure,” stressing that Hamas’s atrocities—murder, abduction, torture—are crimes against humanity. He urged the world to show moral clarity and demand the immediate release of all captives.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Weiss as a “hero” who died defending his people, reaffirming:
“We will neither rest nor be silent until we bring all of our hostages back home, the living and the deceased.”
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum echoed the sentiment, saying Weiss’s return provides “some comfort” after 692 days of agony, but renewed their urgent call for a comprehensive deal to bring every hostage back.
“Only by returning all hostages can Israel achieve healing and national recovery. Time is running out—for the hostages and for the people of Israel,” the Forum warned.
The recovery of Weiss underscores both the sacrifice of Israel’s fallen heroes and the nation’s unwavering resolve to ensure that no hostage is left behind.
