IDF Recovers Body of Hostage Aviv Atzili, Killed During Hamas’s October 7 Attack

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and Shin Bet announced the identification of Aviv Atzili, a 49-year-old warrant officer in reserves, as the second hostage whose body was recovered from southern Gaza’s Khan Younis last week. Atzili’s identity was cleared for publication today, following the recovery operation last week, which also retrieved the body of slain hostage Yair Yaakov, announced earlier. Both men were murdered by Hamas-led terrorists during the October 7, 2023, attack on Kibbutz Nir Oz, where Atzili served on the civil defense squad. The IDF confirmed that Atzili’s body was abducted by Palestinian Islamic Jihad to Gaza after his death in battle. The operation, conducted by the 36th Division under Southern Command, relied on precise intelligence from the Hostage Task Force, Military Intelligence Directorate, and Shin Bet, derived from interrogating a captured Hamas operative.

Aviv Atzili was a central figure in Kibbutz Nir Oz, known for his courage and community spirit. A father of three; Ofri, Neta, and Aya, he ran the kibbutz’s agricultural equipment garage and was an accomplished artist, cyclist, and nature enthusiast. Atzili volunteered annually with Israel’s alpine unit on Mount Hermon, reflecting his dedication to service. On October 7, he fought valiantly against infiltrating terrorists but was initially listed as abducted. His family learned of his death in early December 2023, just one day after his wife, Liat, was released from 54 days in Hamas captivity during a prisoner exchange. In a recent documentary, Liat shared her grief, telling Ynet, “I remember saying, ‘I don’t want to talk about Aviv now, let’s wait until the morning.’ Twelve hours after I got back, the message about Aviv arrived. I had a feeling when someone close to you is gone, you feel it.”

The recovery brings closure to Atzili’s family but underscores the ongoing tragedy, with 53 hostages still held in Gaza, at least 20 believed alive. The October 7 attack killed 1,200 and saw 252 abductions, fuelling Israel’s Operation Gideon’s Chariots in order to return all captives. The IDF and Shin Bet expressed their commitment to bringing all hostages home, stating, “May their memory be blessed.”