Israel has recovered the bodies of two Israeli-American hostages who were killed, and their bodies then taken, in Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack that ignited the war in the Gaza Strip. The remains were recovered and returned to Israel in a special operation by the IDF and the Shin Bet internal security agency.

The army said it had recovered the remains from the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis made possible as a result of “precise intelligence.” The Israeli Army Radio network reported that the relevant intelligence was gained via the “interrogations of terrorists who were taken prisoner” during military operations in Gaza.

The couple had been taking an early morning walk near their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz on the morning of Oct. 7, when Hamas militants stormed across the border and rampaged through several army bases and farming communities.

Weinstein was born in New York and taught English to children with special needs at Kibbutz Nir Oz. Haggai was a retired chef and jazz musician.