In the last few weeks, the IDF and ISA carried out joint operations in Jabaliya to rescue the bodies of seven hostages – Shani Louk, Amit Buskila, Ron Benjamin, Yitzchak Gelernter, Hanan Yablonka, Michel Nisenbaum, and Orion Hernandez – and return them to Israel for burial. All seven of the hostages were murdered during the October 7th Massacre carried out by Hamas in southern Israel, and their bodies were subsequently abducted into the Gaza Strip.
The intelligence gathering and research efforts for the two operations were conducted in the Hostage Task Force of the Intelligence Directorate (J2) alongside the ISA, the divisional intelligence unit and additional IDF units. The effort to find the hostages included gathering and analyzing intelligence indications to provide an overall intelligence assessment, which was passed on to soldiers in the field, who lead the rescue operation together with the Yahalom Combat Engineering Unit, ISA, Unit 504 and a special unit of the Intelligence Directorate (J2).
After ruling out the suspicion of additional hostages being in the area, the 98th Division operated to destroy the tunnel routes from which the bodies of the seven hostages were rescued.
Video of the Commanding Officer of the 98th Division, BG Dan Goldfus, in the tunnel where the bodies of the hostages were found on the 16th of May 2024: https://bit.ly/3yF5oTi
Footage from the tunnel where the bodies of the hostages were rescued by soldiers of the Yahalom Unit: https://bit.ly/3R4quk9
Footage of the destruction of the tunnel: https://bit.ly/3X6lbot