Israel confirms one of Gaza-recovered bodies belongs to Idan Shtivi

Israeli authorities have confirmed that the remains of a soldier recovered from Gaza belong to Idan Shtivi, who was killed on Oct. 7, 2023.

A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said the Israeli National Forensic Institute conducted an identification process confirming Shtivi’s identity.

This photo shows a poster bearing a portrait of Idan Shtivi, one of the Israelis held hostage in the Gaza Strip since October 2023, set up in a square in Tel Aviv, Israel, Jan. 21, 2025. (AFP Photo)

The Israeli army announced on Aug. 29 that it had recovered the remains of two captives in the Gaza Strip and returned them to Israel.

Authorities identified one of the bodies as 56-year-old Ilan Weiss, also killed on Oct. 7, 2023, while the identity of the second remained under investigation at the time.

Currently, 48 Israeli captives remain in the hands of Hamas and other Palestinian groups in Gaza, including 20 who are still alive.

August 31, 2025 11:26 AM GMT+03:00