Official statement of sympathies extended by the government to the family of late Israeli citizen Idan Shtivi
In a sombre development, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced the recovery of the body of Portuguese-Israeli hostage Idan Shtivi, who was taken captive during the attacks carried out by Hamas against Israel on 7 October 2023. Idan, a 28-year-old sustainability student who loved nature, photography, and animals, was remembered by the Israeli ambassador to Portugal, Oren Rozenblat, as a passionate advocate for the environment.
The Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, expressed his condolences to the Shtivi family and spoke about the situation, praising the determined and daring action of the Israeli authorities in their efforts to bring Idan and the other hostages home. Netanyahu also promised to continue taking relentless and determined measures to ensure the safe return of all hostages.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MNE) also extended its condolences to the Shtivi family. The confirmation of Idan's death was only released on 7 October 2024, a year after the attacks. The body of Idan Shtivi was recovered on an unspecified date, but it was not until this Saturday that his identity was made public.
It was Idan's heroic actions at the Nova music festival on 7 October 2023 that first brought him to the public eye. He acted selflessly to help evacuate and save many people during the chaos of the attacks. The family of Idan Shtivi visited Portugal several times in their efforts to fight for his return.
Up to 207 hostages, including 148 alive, have been returned to Israel. However, the responsible party stated that there are still 48 hostages in the hands of Hamas. The Prime Minister thanked the Israeli authorities for their efforts and expressed his hope that all hostages would be returned home soon.
The search results do not provide information about the confirmation date of Idan's death or the identity of the second victim recovered on Friday. The Portuguese-Israeli hostage recovered was not previously identified as one of the two hostages recovered on Friday.
Israel will not stop until all hostages return home. The nation mourns the loss of Idan Shtivi, a young man who embodied the spirit of courage and selflessness. His memory will live on as a reminder of the resilience and determination of the Israeli people in the face of adversity.
