The family of Israeli hostage Elad Katzir, who was abducted by Palestinian Islamic Jihad militants on October 7 from kibbutz Nir Oz, expressed deep sorrow as the Israeli military confirmed his likely death in January. Katzir's body was recovered overnight from Khan Younis and returned to his family in Israel after identification procedures.
Carmit Katzir, Elad's sister, lamented that her brother might have been saved if a ceasefire-hostages deal had been reached in time. She criticized the leadership for being driven by political considerations, stating that her brother's death could have been prevented.
Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Daniel Hagari confirmed that Katzir was likely murdered by his captors, based on credible intelligence. The IDF and the Israeli Security Agency jointly issued a statement regarding the recovery of Katzir's body.
The tragic incident has sparked outrage and renewed calls for peace negotiations to prevent further loss of life. The Katzir family's grief serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of conflict in the region.
