jordan pulse -

The Israeli occupation army announced, on Saturday, that it had recovered the body of detainee Elad Katsir from Khan Yunis, south of Gaza, in an “operation” carried out by a special “commando” unit.

The army added that Katsir, who was 47 years old during his detention on October 7, was “killed” while he was in captivity by the Islamic Jihad movement.

His mother, Hannah, who was detained with him, was released on November 24, during the only truce established between the Israeli occupation and Hamas during the six months of war.

Elad Katzir's body was returned to Israel, where he was officially identified, according to the army, which offered its "sincere condolences to the family."

The army added, "Our mission is to locate the hostages and return them home."

Katzir's sister criticized Israeli officials, considering that concluding a truce agreement with Hamas would have allowed her brother to return alive.

Carmit Balti Katzir wrote on her Facebook account that Elad would have returned to his family “if an agreement on the hostages had been reached in a timely manner. Our leadership is cowardly and driven by political considerations, which is why this deal was not reached.”

She continued, "Prime Minister (Benjamin Netanyahu), the war government, and coalition members: Look at yourselves in the mirror and say that your hands are not stained with blood."

Kingdom + AFP