The body of Israeli hostage Ilan Weiss has been recovered in an operation in the Gaza Strip, Israel's military has announced.
Weiss, 56, was killed during Hamas's attack in southern Israel on 7 October 2023.
The remains of a second hostage, whose identity has not been released yet, were also recovered, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said.
Israel launched a massive offensive in Gaza following the attack in which 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken back to the territory as hostages.
At least 62,966 Palestinians have been killed since the war began, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.
Ilan Weiss was killed while defending Kibbutz Beeri on the day of the attack. His body was taken to Gaza.
Weiss's wife, Shiri, and daughter, Noga, were taken hostage by Hamas on the same day. They were released during a temporary ceasefire in November 2023.
Ilan showed courage and noble spirit when he fought the terrorists on that dark day, Israeli President Isaac Herzog said, before praising Weiss's family's extraordinary strength in their struggle for his return.
After the latest announcement, 48 hostages remain in Gaza - 20 of whom Israel believes are still alive.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been facing strong domestic pressure to agree to a deal that would enable the return of all hostages still in captivity. Huge protests have been held demanding an end to the war.
However, Israel is pushing ahead with its plan to take over Gaza City and eventually establish control over the entire Strip. Netanyahu argues the defeat of Hamas will secure the release of the hostages.
Western countries - and the UN - have warned that an operation in an area of Gaza where more than a million people live would have devastating consequences.
The Israeli military's Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee stated the military was operating with great intensity on the outskirts of Gaza City and would deepen our strikes.
The IDF also confirmed that a scheduled pause in military action set for 10:00 (07:00 GMT) would not apply to Gaza City.
Later on Friday, the Hamas-run health ministry reported that Israeli fire across the besieged territory killed 48 people that day. Footage from Reuters showed a line of bodies in white bags outside Shifa hospital in Gaza City as relatives mourned.
A further five people, including two children, died from malnutrition in Gaza, increasing the total of malnutrition deaths to 322, according to the health ministry.
A UN-backed body recently raised the food insecurity status in parts of Gaza to the highest level, confirming famine for the first time. Israel, however, denies the existence of starvation in the territory.
Since 14 August, around 20,000 people have been displaced south from Gaza City, in addition to approximately 40,000 moving further north, according to the UN's humanitarian affairs office.
More than 90% of homes in Gaza are estimated to be damaged or destroyed, leading to a collapse of healthcare, water, sanitation, and hygiene systems.
