Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday announced that the bodies of two hostages had been recovered from Gaza by the army and the Shin Bet security agency.

The body of hostage Yair Yaakov had been retrieved, along with that of another hostage whose identity has not been cleared for publication, according to Netanyahu.

"Along with all the citizens of Israel, my wife and I extend our deepest condolences to the families who have lost their most precious loved ones," he said in a statement.

"We will not rest and we will not be silent until all our hostages — the living and the fallen alike — are brought home," he added.

The Israeli military said their bodies were recovered from the southern Khan Younis area of Gaza.

Who are the two hostages whose bodies were found?

One of the victims was 59-year-old Yair Yaakov from the Nir Oz kibbutz, one of the communities hit hardest by the October 7, 2023, attacks.

The military said he had been kidnapped and killed by militants from the Palestinian group Islamic Jihad.

His partner, Meirav Tal, and two of his children were also abducted. They were released as part of the first hostage deal in November 2023. 

The name of the second victim is withheld for the time being at the family's request.

How many hostages are left in Gaza?

Israeli forces have retrieved five hostage bodies so far this month.

There are now 53 hostages still being held by Hamas, which Israel, the United States, the European Union, and others consider a terrorist organization.

It is believed that at least 20 of them are still alive. 

During the attacks on October 7, 2023, Hamas and other militants killed some 1,200 people and took 251 hostages.

Israel resumed its bombardment of Gaza on March 2, ending a two-month ceasefire and imposing a total blockade on the enclave.

Edited by: John Silk