IDF Recovers Bodies of 2 Israeli Hostages From Gaza

Israeli military vehicles drive near the border with the Gaza Strip on Dec. 6, 2023, as black smoke rises in the Palestinian territory amid continuing battles between Israel and the terror group Hamas. Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated on Dec. 12 that they’ve retrieved the bodies of two hostages who were abducted by Hamas terrorists during the Oct. 7 attack and returned the remains to Israel.

The two have been identified as Ziv Dado, a 36-year-old logistics supervisor in the Golani Brigade’s 51^st Battalion, and Eden Zakaria, 27, who was kidnapped from a music festival in southern Israel on Oct. 7.

The IDF also stated that two of its soldiers were killed during the operation that led to the retrieval of the hostages’ bodies, with several others suffering injuries.

“Locating the missing and bringing the hostages home is a national mission. We are working with all security agencies, intelligence and operational means to fulfill it,” the IDF stated on X.

More than 1,200 people were killed in Hamas’s large-scale terror attack on Israel on Oct. 7. During the attack, Hamas took about 240 hostages, which it has used as bargaining chips in negotiations.

A temporary truce between Israel and Hamas in November resulted in the release of more than 100 hostages. The ceasefire ended on Dec. 1.

The Israeli prime minister’s office stated on Dec. 1 that Hamas had violated the terms of the truce and “launched rockets at Israeli citizens,” leading to the resumption of the war.

“Upon the resumption of fighting, we emphasize: The Government of Israel is committed to achieving the goals of the war: Releasing the hostages, eliminating Hamas and ensuring that Gaza never again constitutes a threat to the residents of Israel,” it stated on X.

People cheer as a vehicle carrying hostages released by Hamas drives towards an army base in Ofakim, Israel, on Nov. 26, 2023 Menahem Kahana/AFP via Getty Images

At least 19 of the 135 remaining hostages held captive by Hamas have died, the Israeli Government press office stated on Dec. 12.

Israel’s military campaign against Hamas terrorists since Oct. 7 has left more than 18,000 Palestinians dead, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.

UN General Assembly Passes Ceasefire Resolution

On Dec. 12, the U.N. General Assembly passed a nonbinding resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, the release of Israeli hostages captured by Hamas, and compliance with international humanitarian law for the protection of civilians.

The resolution, which doesn’t mention Hamas after the assembly rejected two proposed amendments, garnered substantial support, with 153 countries in favor, 10 against, and 23 abstentions. The United States and Israel were among the 10 countries opposing the resolution.

Israeli U.N. Ambassador Gilad Erdan, who highlighted the “heinous acts of sexual violence” that Hamas terrorists committed in their Oct. 7 rampage in southern Israel, decried the General Assembly’s move as “another hypocritical resolution.”

The General Assembly’s resolution comes after a binding U.N. Security Council ceasefire resolution was vetoed by the United States on Dec. 9.

In a speech on the U.N. floor ahead of the vote, Mr. Erdan asserted that Hamas needs to be held accountable for their attack and highlighted that Israel is already “taking every measure” to facilitate humanitarian aid into Gaza, charging that a ceasefire “has nothing to do with humanity.”

“Not only does this resolution fail to condemn Hamas for crimes against humanity, it does not mention Hamas at all,” he said. “This will only prolong the death and destruction in the region; that is precisely what a ceasefire means.”

Permanent Representative of Israel to the U.N. Gilad Erdan speaks during the U.N. General Assembly meeting to vote on a nonbinding resolution demanding "an immediate humanitarian ceasefire" in Gaza, at U.N. headquarters in New York on Dec. 12, 2023. Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images

The IDF has stated that Israel was expediting the inspection process and delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

“Integrated security screenings” of trucks containing water, food, medical supplies, and shelter equipment will be conducted at the Nitzana and Kerem Shalom crossings, according to the IDF.

“This is being done to improve the volume of security screenings of aid entering Gaza via the Rafah Crossing and will enable us to double the amount of humanitarian aid entering Gaza,” it stated.

Caden Pearson contributed to this report.