Israeli forces recover bodies of two hostage in Gaza, PM says

One of the two hostages was Yair Yaakov, who was killed in the Hamas-led attack on 7 October 2023, Benjamin Netanyahu says.

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He named one of them as Yair (Yaya) Yaakov, a 59-year-old father of three who was killed inside his home at Kibbutz Nir Oz by Palestinian Islamic Jihad gunmen during the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023.

His teenage sons, Or and Yagil, and partner, Meirav Tal, were abducted alive and released in November 2023, as part of a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.

Netanyahu said the name of the other male hostage had not yet been released, but that his family had been informed.

There are now 53 hostages still being held by Hamas in Gaza, at least 20 of whom are believed to be alive.