TRAGEDY

IDF Says Body of 4th Hostage Found in Gaza Tunnels

The body of Ron Benjamin was found during the same special mission that recovered three deceased hostages on Thursday night.

The Israeli Defense Forces have found and identified a fourth deceased hostage held by Hamas in Gaza, IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said in a press conference. The body of Ron Benjamin, 53, was recovered in a special mission by the IDF and the state intelligence agency Shin Bet, Hagari said, adding that Benjamin had been killed on Oct. 7 near Mefalsim, and his body had been taken into Gaza by Hamas. The IDF previously said that the bodies of Shani Louk, Amit Bouskila, and Itzhak Gelernter had been recovered in that mission. Unlike those three, Benjamin was not attending the Nova music festival when the massacre began; he was last heard from in a voice message to his daughters, telling them he was heading home to Rehovot instead of joining a planned group bike ride near the Gaza border that morning. The Times of Israel reported that Benjamin turned around and headed home as soon as he heard the sirens, but never made it back. The IDF now believes Hamas holds 128 hostages in Gaza.