Israel
Second hostage identified as Idan Shtivi
Shtivi was murdered while rescuing and evacuating attendees from the Nova Festival
August 31, 2025 07:50
Shtivi was murdered while rescuing and evacuating attendees from the Nova Festival
August 31, 2025 07:50The second hostage whose body was recently recovered from Gaza has been identified as that of Idan Shtivi, the IDF said on Saturday, a day after naming Ilan Weiss as the other captive brought back in a joint IDF and Israeli Security Agency (Shin Bet) operation.
Shtivi was 28 on October 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists murdered him after he rescued and evacuated attendees from the Nova music festival near Kibbutz Re’im in southern Israel. His body was abducted from the Tel Gama area in the northwestern Negev. His name was publicised after the identification process was completed at the Institute of Forensic Medicine.
Body of Deceased Hostage Idan Shtivi Recovered
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) August 30, 2025
The body of Idan Shtivi, who was held hostage for 693 days in Gaza, was recovered in a joint IDF and ISA operation, alongside the body of Ilan Weiss.
Idan, 28, was murdered and kidnapped by Hamas terrorists from the Tel Gama area… pic.twitter.com/N2DWq7Xl9J
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Shtivi “courageous” in a statement published by his office on Saturday and expressed sympathy for his family on behalf of the Israeli people.
The premier spoke with Shtivi’s family and also that of Weiss, 56, who was murdered on Oct. 7 while defending Kibbutz Be’eri.
He said that Shtivi was a “talented student of sustainability and government, and a courageous individual”.
A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said: “The Prime Minister joined the families in their sorrow and praised the courage of Ilan and Idan, who acted on October 7 to save lives, saying that thanks to the bravery of our fighters, we succeeded in bringing their loved ones to a proper Jewish burial. The Prime Minister said that efforts are ongoing, without pause, to return all hostages, both living and deceased.”
Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed his hope in an X post on Saturday, saying the recovery of Shtivi’s body “will bring a measure of comfort to his beloved parents, Eli and Dalit, and to his siblings, who have shown remarkable strength in their determined struggle for his return”.
He added that “these moments of deep sorrow remind us of one truth: Hamas’ crimes are crimes against humanity. The world must act with moral clarity and press for the release of all the hostages. Every last one.”
Idan Shtivi came to celebrate at the Nova Festival on October 7. He was murdered while helping others fleeing the terrorist onslaught, and his body was held hostage in Gaza. In a joint IDF–Shin Bet operation, he has now been brought home for a dignified burial.
— יצחק הרצוג Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) August 30, 2025
I hope this will… pic.twitter.com/EJfEWKLtfr
The IDF and Shin Bet also conveyed their condolences to the families in a statement announcing Shtivi’s identification, saying that they would “continue every effort possible to bring all the hostages home".
With the retrieval of the two bodies, Hamas is believed to now be holding 20 living hostages and another 28 bodies.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum described Shtivi as a “student of environmental sustainability, a person who wanted to make the world a better place. He was passionate about extreme sports and free diving. He loved nature, photography, animals, and especially dogs. He came to the Nova festival to photograph and document his friends who were playing music and leading workshops.”
Idan is brought home after 694 days 💔
— Bring Them Home Now (@bringhomenow) August 30, 2025
Idan Shtivi was murdered and abducted from the Nova music festival on October 7th, 2023, while trying to save other party goers he only met moments beforehand.
Idan, 28 at the time of his death, was a student of environmental… pic.twitter.com/qbxdowaIPO
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