The fate of Hamas hostages Noa Marciano and Yehudit Weiss “That was the last time I saw my son”

Gaza’s Shifa Hospital has dominated headlines in recent days. An Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) operation at the hospital sparked widespread international criticism – but Israelis had long suspected that there was a Hamas command center beneath the hospital and that Hamas was hiding hostages there.

Israeli soldiers found the bodies of two female hostages near the hospital. These are 19-year-old soldier Noa Marciano and 65-year-old retiree Yehudit Weiss.

This is their fate:

Noa Marciano

19-year-old Noa Marciano was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip on October 7. She was an Israeli soldier on duty that day. According to her mother, the two were still on the phone when Noa Marciano talked about an infiltration and that she now had to hang up. Her mother heard nothing unusual in the background. A short time later she wrote a message to her daughter, but never received a response.

Events came to a head this week: on Monday, Hamas released a video of Noa Marciano. First, she is seen talking to the camera and revealing information about herself and her family. She goes on to say that she is being held in Gaza and has been there with other hostages for four days. She further asks the IDF to stop attacking the area – the explosions are close and could hit the hostages.

The video ends with a shot of Marciano’s lifeless body. Hamas claimed she was killed in an Israeli airstrike.

On Tuesday, Israel confirmed Marciano’s death. This was extraordinary because it was the first time that Israeli forces confirmed the death of a hostage. It has since been revealed that Marciano’s body has been returned to Israel and has been clearly identified – although no cause of death has yet been announced. She was buried on Friday in her hometown of Modi’in.

Yehudit Weiss

Yehudit Weiss, a 65-year-old retiree, was kidnapped from Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7 and taken to the Gaza Strip. Her husband was murdered by Hamas terrorists. Weiss’ body was found by Israeli forces near Shifa Hospital on Thursday. Her identity was confirmed during forensic investigations in Israel.

The IDF statement does not clarify how Weiss died. Army spokesman Daniel Hagari said:

Soldiers also found weapons near her body.

Kibbutz Be’eri, with about 1,000 residents near the Gaza Strip, was severely hit on October 7. At least 86 people were killed and 25 are missing and are believed to have been abducted to the Gaza Strip. Weiss’ son told reporters: