Israeli army recovers body of French-Israeli hostage
The HinduThe Israeli army said Friday it had recovered and returned to Israel the body of French-Israeli hostage Elya Toledano, who was kidnapped and taken to Gaza by militants during Hamas's October 7 attacks. Toledano, 28, was among an estimated 240 people taken hostage during the Hamas attacks on Israel, which were the deadliest in the country's history. "During an operation in Gaza, the body of the hostage Elya Toledano was recovered by IDF Special Forces and brought back to Israel," the Israeli army said in a statement, adding that forensic experts had identified the remains. French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said her country was "deeply saddened to hear the Israeli armed forces announce the death of our compatriot Elya Toledano, a Hamas hostage whose body was found in Gaza".