The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the remains of Ron Benjamin, a 53-year-old hostage taken by Hamas on October 7, 2023, were recovered in a Gaza operation.
In a social media post, IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari confirmed that Benjamin’s body was retrieved during a collaborative effort between the IDF and the Israeli Security Agency (ISA), also known as Shin Bet.
The operation also resulted in the recovery of the bodies of Yitzhak Gelranter, Shani Louk, and Amit Buskila.
Hagari noted that “verified intelligence information” indicated Benjamin had been killed on October 7 during a Hamas attack on Israel, which left 1,200 people dead and over 250 hostages taken. His body was subsequently taken to Gaza by Hamas operatives.
“According to verified intelligence information in our possession, the late Ron Binyamin was murdered during the brutal terrorist attack on October 7 in the Mefalim siege, and his body was kidnapped to Gaza by Hamas terrorists,” Hagari wrote on social media on Saturday.
The joint IDF-ISA operation was based on intelligence from captured terrorists in Gaza, along with guidance from the Captives and Missing Persons Command in the intelligence department.
“After an identification procedure carried out by medical officials at the National Institute of Forensic Medicine and the Israel Police, IDF representatives notified the family during the day,” Hagari wrote.
According to the Times of Israel, Benjamin was abducted by Hamas after returning home from a bike ride on October 7, following the activation of sirens at 6:30 a.m.
Although some hostages have been released, approximately 130 remain captive in Gaza. Of those taken by Hamas, the IDF estimates that 40 are deceased.
