Hostage Elad Katzir murdered, body returned to Israel

• Published date: 06 April 2024
• Author: JERUSALEM POST STAFF
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

Around a week ago, the IDF received new intelligence about the placement of the body. In addition, around Friday, the IDF received additional intelligence confirmation. Aspects of the confirmation appeared to be related to interrogations of Palestinian terror prisoners

Within hours of the final confirmation, his body was unearthed on Friday in Khan Yunis' refugee camp by commandos from the Egoz unit.

IDF spokesperson R.-Adm. Daniel Hagari confirmed Katzir's death, in a post on X Saturday afternoon.Katzir's sister, Carmit, announced on Saturday that he was murdered in captivity in January after enduring physical and mental torture for months.

His father, Avraham, was killed in their kibbutz, and his mother, Hanna, was also taken hostage but freed on November 24 under a truce.

Criticizing PM Netanyahu

Katzir's sister criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in her statement to the press."The IDF spokesperson won't tell you that the prime minister, the cabinet, and the IDF have no idea where most of the hostages – alive and murdered – are being held. Nor will he tell you that they have no way of protecting the hostages, even when they know where they are," she said.

"Elad was kidnapped from his home in Nir Oz alive and was photographed twice while in captivity. He could have been saved if a deal had happened in time. Our leadership is cowardly and driven by political considerations, and that is why [a deal] did not happen," she stated.

"He might be recognized as a victim of the hostilities, but the exact term is...