Israeli forces recover body of French-Israeli hostage in Gaza
The Israeli army has recovered the body of the French-Israeli hostage Elya Toledano, who was kidnapped and taken to Gaza by militants during the 7 October attacks.
Toledano, who turned 28 in captivity, was among an estimated 240 people taken hostage during the Hamas attacks in southern Israel. A resident of Tel Aviv, he was at the Nova music festival along with his friend and fellow French-Israeli Mia Schem, who was released under a truce agreement at the end of November.
The two friends had tried to flee by car at the start of the attack on the Nova music festival, but their tyres had been shot out. Schem had messaged other friends: “They’re shooting at us, come to help us.”
Schem, 21, who was training to be a tattoo artist, was later shown in the first Hamas video of a hostage speaking from captivity. She was released on 30 November.
Scores of mainly Israeli hostages but also foreign nationals were released during the short truce, while several have been confirmed killed in the war that began with the attacks. The bodies of two 19-year-old soldiers, Nik Beizer and Ron Scherman, were also recovered, the army said on Friday.
Israeli officials say the 7 October attacks killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians. Israel’s ensuing offensive in Gaza has killed more than 18,700 people, mostly women and children, according to Palestinian officials.
“During an operation in Gaza, the body of the hostage Elya Toledano (28) was recovered by IDF special forces and brought back to Israel,” the Israeli army said in a statement, adding that forensic experts had identified the remains.
“The IDF sends the family its heartfelt condolences,” it said, adding that Toledano’s family had been notified before the public statement.
The families of hostages had said in recent weeks that they did not know whether Toledano was still alive.
The French foreign minister, Catherine Colonna, said her country was “deeply saddened to hear the Israeli armed forces announce the death of our compatriot Elya Toledano, a Hamas hostage whose body was found in Gaza”.
“We share the grief of his family and loved ones. The release of all hostages is our priority,” she wrote on X.
According to the Israeli military, more than 130 of the hostages taken to Gaza are still being held.
Families of the hostages said this week they were “shocked” by the director of Israeli intelligence agency Mossad’s announcement that he was refusing to conduct new negotiations to free them, and demanded an explanation from the authorities.