Lieutenant-Colonel Aviv Atzili identified in Gaza after 15 months

Lieutenant-Colonel Aviv Atzili identified in Gaza after 15 months

Celle, Deutschland - A dark shadow lies over northern Germany when you look at the latest developments in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. The second body of a soldier, Aviv Atzili, who died in Gaza, was recently recently recently been recovered. The 49-year-old reservist lieutenant was part of the security team of the Kibbutz Nir OZ and has finally been identified after over 15 months of uncertainty. This is not a simple message for his family; His partner, Liat Atzili, was kidnapped on the same day, October 7, 2023, during an attack by Hamas terrorists and only found himself at home after a hostage drama. Even if she can trust her accommodation, the question about Aviv remains more painful than ever. I24NEWS reports that ...

The shocking events started when over 1,200 people were killed in Israel on October 7, 2023 and numerous people were kidnapped as hostages in the Gaza strips by the Hamas terrorists. Aviv fought bravely on the front to defend his community, but did not survive the argument. It is now considered a symbol for the heroic commitment of the Israeli soldiers, and while many hope that the cycle of violence can finally be broken, the loss for its surviving persons remains painfully noticeable.

military offensive and escalation of violence

The sad story of Aviv Atzili happens against the background of an intensifying military offensive of Israel, which was recently started on March 18, 2025. These offensive measures follow the end of a two -month ceasefire with Hamas. Lefigaro reports that…

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that the army will take aggressive measures to smash Hamas and to get the hostage still in captivity. Bombings and attacks are the order of the day, which also does not leave the civil protection authority in Gaza untouched. 16 deaths were recently reported in an air raid, although international voices, such as those of the British Foreign Minister Hamish Falconer, are concerned about the escalation of this brutal conflict.

a long way to the hostage exemption

The Aviv Atzili's return action is therefore not only an individual tragedy, but also throws a light on the attempted hostage releases, which have been discussed again and again since the Hamas attack in October 2023. According to reports of the past few months, more than 98 hostages should still be recorded in the Gaza Strip. In the attempt to free them, there were both military and diplomatic efforts. In January 2025, an agreement between Israel and Hamas was announced that a first phase of the hostage exemption Tagesschau notes ....

The situation remains tense, while relatives of hostages continue to demonstrate to return and the Israeli forces are under pressure to keep their promises. It remains to be hoped that such tragedies as that of Aviv Atzili will soon be a thing of the past and that a future -oriented peace can be possible.