Israel recovers body of hostage, four more killed in Gaza

Another four hostages taken by Hamas during the terror organization's rampage in southern Israel on October 7 were announced as being dead, Israeli security forces and media stated on Friday.

The body of Ofir Tzarfati was recovered by the IDF and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) in the Gaza Strip. He was subsequently brought back into Israel.

Tzarfati was a soldier abducted from the vicinity of the Re'im base on October 7.

His body was identified by medical and military rabbinate personnel along with the Institute of Forensic Medicine and Israel Police.

The second hostage, Guy Ilouz, 26, who was abducted from Re'im, was a music and sound technician who had been a participant at the Nova Music Festival on October 7. He worked with prominent Israeli musicians including Shalom Hanoch, Matti Caspi, and the band, HaYehudim.

Chaim Broyde, the mayor of Ra'anana, mourned the loss of the young man, saying he was "heartbroken, as hope was replaced by a great pain."

Later on Friday evening, Israeli media reported that another Israeli kidnapped by Hamas, Eliyahu Margalit, 75, had also been murdered in Gaza.

Margalit's daughter, Nili, had been released from Hamas captivity the previous day.

Israeli media also announced that Ofra Kidar, 70, from Kibbutz Be'eri had been murdered in Gaza while held hostage by Hamas. Her body is currently being held by Hamas.

Kidar's husband was murdered by the genocidal terrorist group on October 7.

Israeli thought to have been kidnapped by Hamas announced dead

Ronen Engel, a resident of the southern Israeli community of Kibbutz Nir Oz, was also announced dead, the kibbutz spokesperson said on Friday.

Engel, 54, who was a photographer and MDA volunteer, was previously thought to have been kidnapped along with his wife and two daughters on October 7, who were released this week during a round of hostage-prisoner exchanges.