The Israeli military has confirmed the recovery of the body of Aviv Atzili, a 49-year-old Israeli reservist and member of Kibbutz Nir Oz’s civil defence squad, from southern Gaza last week.
According to the forces, Atzili was killed on October 7, 2023, during clashes with Hamas-led militants who launched a deadly assault on Israeli communities near the Gaza border.
His body was subsequently taken into Gaza by members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
The recovery operation took place in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, and formed part of a broader mission that also led to the retrieval of another slain hostage, Yair Yaakov, who was also killed in Nir Oz during the October 7 attacks.
