We have been reporting this morning that the bodies of two Israeli hostages have been recovered.
According to the Israeli military, the bodies of Noa Marciano, a 19-year-old IDF corporal, and Yehudit Weiss, 65, were discovered close to al Shifa hospital in Gaza (see post at 7.54am).
Our data and forensics team has identified that Ms Weiss’s family appear to have had more hostages taken and members killed than any other in the Hamas attack on Kibbutz Be’eri in southern Israel on 7 October.
By Sanya Burgess, digital investigations journalist
The body of an Israeli hostage recovered from Gaza City is reported to be Judith Weiss, whose family was featured in Sky News’ special report into the Hamas attack on Kibbutz Be’eri.
Her remains were found in a building near the al Shifa hospital complex, according to the Israeli military.
Sky News had identified 118 of the 131 people who died at Kibbutz Be’eri and found that 22 families had two or more members who had been killed or taken hostage. The Weiss family appear to be the worst-hit, with seven members dead or taken.
The Weiss family lost Amir, 69, Matti, 69, and Shmulik 66, while Noga, 18, Shiri, 53, Ilan, 56, and Judith, 65, were all believed to have been taken as hostage.
Now Judith Weiss’s body has been reportedly found, this would mean four members of the Weiss family have died, while the fate of the three others remains unknown.
More than 230 hostages were taken by Hamas during the October 7 attack. The discovery of Weiss, 65, appears to be the first recovered body of one of those kidnapped on that day.
Hamas denies it is holding all of the hostages and claims some have died during the Israeli attacks on the Gaza region.
You can read the special report here:
Emily Foster is a globe-trotting journalist based in the UK. Her articles offer readers a global perspective on international events, exploring complex geopolitical issues and providing a nuanced view of the world’s most pressing challenges.
