Body of hostage Itai Svirsky, killed in Hamas captivity, recovered by IDF in Gaza

On January 15, Hamas announced in a video that Itai Svirsky, 38, had been killed in an IDF airstrike. 

By YONAH JEREMY BOB, JERUSALEM POST STAFF DECEMBER 4, 2024 20:01

Itay Svirsky (photo credit: Courtesy)

The body of hostage Itai Svirsky, who was taken hostage on October 7 from Kibbutz Be'eri, was recovered by the IDF in a joint operation with the Shin BEt (ISA), the military announced on Wednesday. 

On January 15, Hamas announced in a video that Itai Svirsky, 38, had been killed in an IDF airstrike. 

Svirsky was held hostage with Yossi Sharabi and Noa Argamani, with the latter rescued by the IDF and Shin Bet in June. 

In a video released by Hamas, Argamani announced the deaths of hostages Yossi Sharabi and Itai Svirsky.

"I was located in a building," Argamani said in the Hamas video. "It was bombed by an IDF airstrike, an F16 fighter jet. Three rockets were fired. Two of the rockets exploded, and the other didn't. We were in the building with Al Qassam soldiers and three hostages: Myself, Noa Argamani, Itai Svirsky, and Yossef Sharabi.

Merav Svirsky whose brother Itai held hostage in the Gaza Strip speaks during a Constitution, Law and Justice Committee meeting at the Knesset, the the Israeli Parliament in Jerusalem, on December 3, 2024. (credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)

"After the building we were in was hit, we were all buried under rubble. Al Qassam soldiers saved my life, and Itai's, unfortunately, we were not able to save Yossi's.

"After many days...two nights, Itai and I were relocated to another place. While we were being transported, Itai was hit by an IDF airstrike. He did not survive."

IDF says Itai Svirsky murdered by Hamas in captivity 

The IDF's position is that Svirsky was shot and murdered by Hamas in captivity. 

Svirsky was kidnapped from Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7 during Hamas’s rampage through the southern Israeli community. The 38-year-old had been staying with his mother, Orit, 70, at the time.

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He and his mother had been hiding under blankets in the safe room when the terrorists stormed in and sprayed the room with bullets, killing Orit.

Itai’s father, Rafi, 71, was also murdered, along with his three golden retrievers.

Sam Halpern and Noa Feigenbaum contributed to this report.