TRANSCRIPT
The body of one of the hostages held by Hamas was discovered during an operation by the Israeli military in Khan Younis.
In a statement the military says the man was identified by medical specialists to be 47-year-old Elad Katzir.
Katzir was one of the 250 hostages taken by Hamas during the October 7 raids on southern Israel.
Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari says the man was murdered earlier this year.
"Elad was brutally kidnapped from Nir Oz by the terrorists of the Islamic Jihad together with his mother, Hana, who was released from captivity and returned home to Israel as part of the plan for the return of the hostages. According to the intelligence information we have, Elad was murdered by his captors during the month of January. IDF representatives this morning delivered the message to the family of Elad, may his memory be blessed, and updated them with the details of the operation."
The IDF says Katzir's remains have been returned to Israel for further examination.
The news has caused unrest in Tel Aviv, with reports saying over 100,000 people took to the streets to show their frustration towards the Israeli government.
Protesters called for an election while chanting "We're sorry, Elad!".
Speaking to the BBC, protester Noam Peri says a deal should have already been reached for the release of the remaining hostages.
"Elad Katzir managed to survive three months in captivity. He should have been with us today. He could have been with us today. And we demand the world to do anything to make this deal come true and bring them all back home."
Katzir's sister, Carmit Palty Katzir, also blames the Israeli government for her brother's death.
In a post on social media platform X , Ms Katzir has called the Israeli leadership cowardly and says the blood of the dead is on the hands of the members of the war cabinet.
Ofer Kalderon, the sister-in-law of another hostage and another protester, is calling for the immediate release of the remaining hostages.
"Today, we got a very bad message about (deceased hostage) Elad Katzir. He was, he was hostage for three months, he could handle three months, and then they killed him. We don't know what about all the rest? This is the time. Not a day more. This is the time to bring them back. All of them as soon as possible. We have to bring them back home."
It comes as the conflict between Hamas and Israel reaches six months, with no end in sight.
American, Israeli, and Hamas negotiators are meeting in Egypt's capital, Cairo, in a renewed push for a ceasefire and hostage release deal in a war that has now reached the half-year mark.
United States President Joe Biden is calling on the leaders of Qatar and Egypt to pressure Hamas to accept a ceasefire agreement.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says the war is leading half of Gaza's population to the edge of starvation.
"More than half the population, over a million people, are facing catastrophic hunger. Children in Gaza today are dying for lack of food and water. This is incomprehensible, and entirely avoidable. Nothing can justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people."
Israel announced the opening of two humanitarian aid routes, but some say that isn't enough to reach all the people in need of support.
And getting aid into Gaza is also posing a risk for those delivering help.
An Israeli military investigation into the deaths of seven World Central Kitchen aid workers in Gaza resulting in the dismissal of two military officers and several others being reprimanded.
However, there have been calls for an independent review into the incident.
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong says the federal government plans to send a special advisor to Israel to ensure the investigation meets Australian expectations.
“But obviously what we want is full transparency and accountability which is why the Deputy Prime Minister and I have written to our counterparts setting out our expectations. It's also why the government will appoint a special adviser who we have requested the Israelis work with so we can be advised about the appropriateness of the process. We want to have full confidence in the transparency and accountability of any investigation. We will continue to work to achieve that.”
More than 33,000 people in Gaza have been killed since Israel declared war on Hamas in retaliation to the militants' 7 October attack.
Hamas killed 1,200 Israelis and took more than 200 hostages in their assault.
