• Israel recovers bodies of hostages Ilan Weiss and Idan Shtivi from Gaza.
• Weiss was killed defending Kibbutz Be'eri during a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.
• Idan Shtivi, a 28-year-old student, was killed during the same attack at the Nova music festival.
• The recoveries come amid increasing Israeli military operations in Gaza City.
• 49 hostages remain in Gaza, with only 20 believed to be alive.

The Israeli government has confirmed the recovery of the bodies of two hostages, Ilan Weiss and Idan Shtivi, from Gaza. Weiss, 56, was abducted during the October 7, 2023, attack on Kibbutz Be'eri and was reported killed during the incident, while Shtivi, 28, was killed at the Nova music festival, where he was trying to help others escape the violence, according to reports from Reuters and BBC.

The military operation which led to the recovery of these bodies is described as a "complex rescue mission" by Israeli officials. Both men were reported as being victims of the brutal Hamas assault that killed approximately 1,200 individuals and took 251 hostages, according to the claims of the Israeli military as documented by India Times and Reuters.

Following these recoveries, the Israeli government indicated that 49 hostages remain in Gaza, with only 20 presumed to be alive. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his commitment to ensuring that all hostages, living or deceased, are brought home, amidst ongoing military actions in Gaza, as highlighted by CBS News and Le Monde.

The military's renewed focus on Gaza City marks an escalation in Israel's operations, which have already resulted in over 63,000 Palestinian fatalities, according to health officials in the Hamas-run territory. The humanitarian situation has deteriorated significantly as humanitarian access remains limited, reports India Times and Reuters.