The Israeli military (IDF) has confirmed the death of Bilha Yinon, the last person missing in Israel following the Oct. 7 attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
“Representatives of the IDF officially announced today, to the family of Bilha Yanon Zakara Barakah, that she is no longer alive,” IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter, on August 6.
The military conducted an investigation following the Oct. 7 attack, which marked the beginning of the current conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The investigation led to the discovery of evidence near Bilha Yinon’s home. After extensive testing, her identity was verified, confirming that she was killed on Oct. 7, according to the statement.
“The IDF shares in the grief of the Yanon family and the entire Netiv HaThar community,” Hagari wrote.
נציגי צה״ל הודיעו היום רשמית, למשפחתה של בלהה ינון זכרה לברכה, כי היא אינה בין החיים.
בלהה ינון היא האחרונה שהוגדרה כנעדרת מאז השבעה באוקטובר. מאז פרוץ המלחמה, צה״ל, אגף כוח האדם בפרט ומפקדת החטופים באמ״ן, מנהלים מאמץ חקירה נרחב במסגרתו פעלו צוותים שונים, במגוון תחומים, על מנת…
— דובר צה״ל דניאל הגרי – Daniel Hagari (@IDFSpokesperson) August 6, 2024
Israel said that she was killed alongside her husband Yaakov.
Although Bilha’s death was only just confirmed, her children already beleived she was not going to be found alive. Yaakov and Bilha’s son Magen, who lives in London, wrote an opinion piece for The Guardian less than two weeks after the attack.
“Both my parents – my beloved wonderful parents, Yakov and Bilha Inon – are now dead,” it read. “The only consolation I have is that they died together. Inseparable in life and death.”
He said he learned about the attack on Oct. 7 through a WhatsApp group chat with his family in Israel.
“My siblings and I received a short message from my parents saying that they could hear gunshots. They said they were safe inside the house and had locked the doors. This was the last time we heard from them,” said Magen.
Another son, Maoz, wrote on X of the news of his mother’s death, “Whilst we knew that she and my father were both gone, we buried and mourned them, perhaps this is a reminder of how deep the scars of that day are.” He added that he hoped his parents did not die in vain, and urged a “path to peace” between Israel and Palestine.
The Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and approximately 250 others who were taken hostage, according to Israel’s Foreign Ministry. In response, Israel launched an offensive in Gaza which the Gaza Ministry of Health told AP has killed around 40,000 Palestinians.
Many Israelis continue to protest in big cities demanding a deal with Hamas in order to get the remaining hostages freed. On Tuesday, the protestors blocked roads and police had clear the attendees, according to Times of Israel.
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