The Israeli Defense Forces announced on Thursday that the body of Yehudit Weiss, who was kidnapped by Hamas from kibbutz Be'eri during the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, was discovered in a building near Gaza's Al-Shifa hospital.
After an identification procedure conducted by medical officials and military rabbis, Weiss' family was informed of her death. The IDF did not provide details on how or when Weiss was killed.
The IDF also reported that "military equipment and weapons of the Kalashnikov type and an RPG missile were also found" in the same building where Weiss' body was found. Additionally, guns and grenades were recovered from the medical facility itself, and a tunnel shaft was discovered on the hospital grounds.
Out of the approximately 240 hostages taken during the attacks, two Americans and two Israelis have been released. The number of casualties remains unknown.
Israel is currently considering a proposal for Hamas to release a portion of the hostages, particularly children and civilians, in exchange for a three-to-five-day cease-fire.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed to Norah O'Donnell, anchor and managing editor of "CBS Evening News," that there were "strong indications" of hostages being held by Hamas at Gaza's Al-Shifa Hospital. However, when the Israeli military launched a ground operation at the hospital early Wednesday morning, the hostages were no longer there.
"We had strong indications that they were held in the Shifa Hospital, which is one of the reasons we entered the hospital," Netanyahu said.
The IDF did not disclose whether it believed Weiss had been held at the hospital before her death.
Al-Shifa, Gaza's largest hospital, had experienced a tense standoff in the days leading up to the ground operation. Israel claimed that Hamas was using the medical facilities as a base, a claim supported by the U.S. but denied by Hamas and the hospital's doctors. United Nations officials have previously stated that Hamas has used schools and hospitals as rocket-launching sites during clashes with Israel.
The hospital lost power over the weekend after running out of fuel for its generators. This led to the evacuation of babies from their incubators. Distressing pictures showed dozens of babies lying on aluminum foil and blankets for warmth. Multiple U.N. officials warned about the dangers of a military operation targeting a medical facility.
Director of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, expressed deep concern about the incursion.
Battery-Powered Incubators Sent to Al-Shifa Hospital
Battery-powered incubators were sent to Al-Shifa hospital, the IDF said, releasing photos of the equipment and of soldiers standing inside Al-Shifa beside boxes marked, in large English writing, "baby food" and "medical supplies."
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