IDF retrieves body of fourth hostage in Gaza; Gantz gives ultimatum to Netanyahu, sets June 8 deadline

The Israeli army on Saturday (May 18) said that troops had retrieved the body of hostage Ron Benjamin, who was allegedly captured by Hamas militants while on a cycling trip.

The development comes with a warning by Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz as he demanded a post-war plan by June 8, otherwise, he would quit the coalition.

Gantz asked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to commit to an agreed vision for the Gaza conflict that would include stipulating who might rule the territory after the war with Hamas.

While speaking during a news conference, Gantz said he wanted the war cabinet to form a six-point plan by June 8.

He further added that if his expectations were not met, he would withdraw his centrist party from the conservative premier's emergency government.

Ron Benjamin's body retrieved

Military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said Benjamin's body was retrieved in the same operation that saw troops recover the remains of three other hostages.

In a separate statement, the military said that Benjamin was "murdered during the October 7th massacre at the Mefalsim intersection, and his body was abducted to Gaza by Hamas militants".

"His body was rescued along with the bodies of Yitzhak Gelerenter, Shani Louk, and Amit Buskila ... based on precise intelligence obtained during the interrogations of terrorists who were apprehended in the Gaza Strip," the statement added.

On Friday, the Israeli military announced that the troops had recovered the bodies of Yitzhak Gelerenter, Shani Louk, and Amit Buskila. All of them were taken hostage during the attack on the Nova music festival.

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The war started after Hamas militants launched an unprecedented attack on October 7. Nearly 1,200 people were killed in Israel, as per the authorities.

Thousands of young people had gathered on October 6 and 7 for the electronic music event, which was held near the Re'im kibbutz close to the Gaza border. The Nova festival victims accounted for nearly a third of the Israeli death toll.

Hamas militants had also taken hostages. Out of the 252 people, 124 are still being held inside the Gaza Strip, including 37 the army says are dead.

In retaliation to the attack, Israel launched the war and vowed to wipe out Hamas militants from the Strip.

Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

(Withinputs from agencies)