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In a somber development on Wednesday night, 14-year-old Yagil Yaakov announced via Instagram that the body of his father, Yair Yaakov, who was taken hostage by Hamas on October 7, 2023, had been recovered from the Gaza Strip.
The announcement marked a painful but significant moment of closure for the Yaakov family and the wider community of Kibbutz Nir Oz, where Yair lived and worked.
The 59-year-old father of three was kidnapped from his home alongside his partner Merav Tal and two of his sons, including Yagil, during the brutal Hamas-led incursion into southern Israel.
According to Israeli authorities, Yaakov was murdered shortly after being taken into Gaza, and his body had remained in Hamas captivity until recently.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF), with intelligence support from the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), were able to locate and retrieve Yaakov’s body from the Khan Yunis area.
The operation followed interrogations of Gazan detainees, whose testimonies helped pinpoint the burial site. His remains were later identified at the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute, confirming the family’s worst fears.
Kibbutz Nir Oz had previously declared in February 2024 that Yaakov had been killed in captivity. Following the body’s recovery, the kibbutz described him as “a humble, simple man, who loved his family and music.” Yaakov had dedicated his life to agriculture and most recently worked in a garage at Kibbutz Alumim.
His son Yagil, who was held hostage and later released, shared an emotional message online: “I’m sad to say this – I’m already waiting for your funeral. I knew this day would come,” he wrote. He thanked the IDF and Shin Bet for the rescue and called for the remaining hostages to be released through a deal that would not endanger more soldiers.
Yaakov’s eldest daughter, 22-year-old Shir, narrowly escaped the October 7 attack when Hamas militants failed to break into her kibbutz apartment six times. The family’s story has become emblematic of the broader suffering endured by victims of the attack and the hostages still held in Gaza.
In a statement, the Yaakov family said: “This is a much-needed closure, so that we can begin to look forward. We thank from the bottom of our hearts the security forces and the brave soldiers who took part in the complex rescue operation. However, we reiterate our position — the lives of soldiers should not be at stake. The hostages must be returned in a deal that prevents further danger to the soldiers or the captives.”
The Hostages Families Forum, which advocates for the release of all those still held in Gaza, paid tribute to Yaakov: “A modest man, a family lover, and connected to the land… Time is running out for the hostages. We must bring everyone home, now!”
Israeli political leaders also weighed in. Opposition Leader Yair Lapid called the recovery “an important closing of a circle” and offered condolences to the family.
Democrats Party head Yair Golan stressed the urgency of securing the release of the remaining 54 hostages: “Twenty of them are alive, and every minute is a nightmare… We must end the war and bring everyone back – now.”
Yaakov’s funeral is expected to take place in the coming days.