The body of Israeli hostage Ilan Weiss has been recovered in an operation in the Gaza Strip, Israel's military has announced.
Weiss, 56, was killed during Hamas's attack in southern Israel on 7 October 2023.
The remains of a second hostage, whose identity has not been released yet, were also recovered, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says.
Israel launched a massive offensive in Gaza following the attack in which 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken back to the territory as hostages.
After the latest announcement, 48 hostages remain in Gaza - 20 of whom Israel believes are still alive.
Ilan Weiss was killed while defending Kibbutz Beeri on the day of the attack. His body was taken to Gaza.
Weiss's wife, Shiri, and daughter, Noga, were taken hostage by Hamas on the same day. They were released during a temporary ceasefire in November 2023.
Ilan showed courage and noble spirit when he fought the terrorists on that dark day, Israeli President Isaac Herzog said, praising Weiss's family's extraordinary strength in their struggle for his return.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been facing strong domestic pressure to agree to a deal that would enable the return of all hostages still in captivity.
Huge protests have been held demanding an end to the war, as Israel pushes ahead with its plan to take over Gaza City and eventually establish control over the entire Strip. Netanyahu argues the defeat of Hamas will secure the release of the hostages.
The country's military says it has begun the initial stages of its advance into Gaza City.
The IDF stated a scheduled pause in military action which had been due to come into effect would not apply to Gaza City, according to the latest assessment and directives of the political echelon.
In recent days, Israel has conducted air strikes on Gaza City and advised residents to move towards makeshift housing in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.
Since mid-August, about 60,000 people have been displaced due to the ongoing conflict, with significant humanitarian concerns being raised as over 90% of homes are reported damaged or destroyed.
As the situation continues to unfold, Western countries and the UN warn of devastating consequences for the densely populated areas of Gaza.
The humanitarian crisis deepens as civilian casualties rise and infrastructure collapses, prompting urgent calls for international intervention and support.
