Idan Shtivi identified as second Gaza hostage recovered in special IDF op. - Aaron Reich, Shir Perets, Jerusalem Post Staff

 

by Aaron Reich, Shir Perets, Jerusalem Post Staff

His remains were recovered along with Ilan Weiss. The IDF announced Weiss's recovery on Friday.

 

Idan Shtivi.

(photo credit: Hostages and Missing Families Forum)

The remains of the second hostage who was recovered from the Gaza Strip in a special IDF and Shin Bet operation were identified as Idan Shtivi, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday night. 

His remains were recovered along with Ilan Weiss's. The IDF announced Weiss's recovery on Friday. 

His death was originally announced by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum in October 2024. 

"Idan was a talented student of sustainability and government and a courageous man. On October 7, 2023, he attended the Nova music festival, and when the terrorist attack began, he acted to evacuate and save many of the participants, the prime minister said.

"In the course of his actions, he was murdered, and his body was kidnapped by the Hamas terrorist organization into Gaza."

Israelis demonstrate against Gaza City incursion, and for an immediate hostage deal, August 30, 2025. (credit: AVSHALOM SASSONI)

On October 7, Shtivi arrived at the Nova festival site to take photos of his friends, who were conducting workshops there.  When the attacks began, Shtivi helped two people escape before he was kidnapped. 

With a passion for nature and the environment, Shtivi studied environmental sciences at Reichman University’s School of Sustainability. 

Shtivi, 28, is survived by his parents, Eli and Dalit, three siblings, and his partner, Stav. 

The identification process was conducted at the National Center for Forensic Medicine. The Israel Police, the Military Rabbinate, and the Hostages and Missing Persons Headquarters notified his family. 

"Together with all the citizens of Israel, my wife and I send our heartfelt condolences to the dear families and share in their deep sorrow," Netanyahu stated on Friday.

"The campaign to bring back the hostages continues without pause. We will not rest and we will not be silent until we return all our hostages home, both the living and the fallen."

Ilan Weiss

Weiss, 56, was a resident of Kibbutz Be'eri in the Gaza border area and served on the kibbutz's emergency standby squad. In January 2024, the kibbutz confirmed that he was killed during the October 7 massacre, with his body taken by Hamas back to the Gaza Strip.

Weiss's wife, Shiri, and daughter, Noga, were also taken hostage by Hamas on October 7, but were released in late November 2023 during a temporary ceasefire.

His other two daughters, Meytal and Maayan, were able to hide from Hamas during the massacre and were saved by Israeli soldiers. 

The family dog, Ketem, was also killed by Hamas terrorists when Shiri and Noga were abducted. 

Aaron Reich, Shir Perets, Jerusalem Post Staff

Source: https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-865771

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