07:02โขHostage Bodies Retrieved After 608 Days
โจThe newspapers report on the IDF's successful recovery of bodies of hostages Gadi Haggai and Judith Weinstein from Khan Yunis after 608 days in captivity. The couple, who held US citizenship, were killed and kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7th, with their bodies retrieved in a military operation that allows their family to proceed with burial (13tv, Haaretz, INN, Israel Hayom, Jerusalem Post, Kan, n12, now14, Srugim, Times, Kipa, Walla, Maariv, Mako, Ynet). Netanyahu called the operation "determined and successful" while the family expressed gratitude for "closing the circle." Meanwhile, leaked recordings reveal Netanyahu explicitly told ultra-Orthodox leader Rabbi Moshe Hillel Hirsch that he removed "enormous obstacles" by firing Defense Minister Gallant and IDF Chief Halevi to advance draft exemption legislation, stating "when the Defense Minister and Chief of Staff are against you, you can't move forward, now we can" (Davar).