The Israeli army found the body of Yehudit Weiss, who was kidnapped by Palestinian gunmen in a bloody attack on southern Israel on October 7, near Shifa Hospital in the Gaza Strip. With reference to today’s announcement of the Israeli army, Reuters informs about it.
An army spokesman later said the woman was killed by members of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas. It is estimated that Hamas kidnapped about 240 people in the Gaza Strip last month and that 1,200 people on the Israeli side were killed in the attack.
The body was found in a building near the hospital, which the Israeli army stormed on Wednesday, according to the statement. In the hospital complex, the army, according to its earlier reports, found weapons and valuable intelligence about the hostages.
The body of 65-year-old Weiss was identified by forensic experts, and her family has already been informed of the woman’s death, writes Reuters. According to army spokesman Daniel Hagari, the woman was killed by members of Hamas, writes The Times of Israel news website. “We didn’t get to her in time,” Hagari said in an evening speech. The military previously said Hamas military equipment, including assault rifles, was found near the body.
Weiss was a mother of five children and was abducted from Kibbutz Beeri on October 7. Her husband Smurf Weiss was found murdered hiding in their house. Weiss was retired and helped in the kindergarten and in the kibbutz cafeteria. She was being treated for breast cancer at the time of her abduction.
In a statement, the Israeli military offered its condolences to the family and said its goal was to find all the abductees and return them home. She added that she is cooperating with the relevant security authorities for this purpose.
