Israeli army says body of another hostage killed on Oct. 7 recovered

By Said Amori

JERUSALEM (AA) - The Israeli army announced on Saturday that it has found the body of another Israeli hostage in the Gaza Strip, who was killed in the Hamas attack on Oct. 7.

At a news conference, the Israeli army spokesperson, Daniel Hagari, stated that “confirmed information available to the army indicates that (53-year old) Ron Benjamin was killed during the attack on Oct. 7 at the Mefalsim junction, where Hamas militants abducted his body to the Gaza Strip.”

“There are still 128 hostages in the Gaza Strip, with the deaths of 39 of them announced,” added Hagari.

On Friday, the Israeli army claimed to have retrieved the bodies of 3 Israelis held in Gaza since the attack on Oct. 7.

Israel continued its brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire in the enclave.

Nearly 35,400 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and over 79,300 others injured since last October following a Hamas attack.

More than seven months into the Israeli war, vast swathes of Gaza lay in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water, and medicine.

Israel is accused of “genocide” at the International Court of Justice, which has ordered Tel Aviv to ensure its forces do not commit acts of genocide and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala​​​​​​​