ISRAEL said today that it has recovered the bodies of two Israeli-United States hostages who were captured during Hamas’s October 7 2023 attack.

The announcement came as Israeli bombardment in Gaza killed at least 43 people, including three local journalists, according to health officials in the territory.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the remains of Judith Weinstein and Gad Haggai had been recovered and returned to Israel in a special operation by the army and internal security agency Shin Bet.

“Together with all the citizens of Israel, my wife and I extend our heartfelt condolences to the dear families. Our hearts ache for the most terrible loss. May their memory be blessed,” he said in a statement.

Meanwhile, in Gaza City, three local reporters were killed and six people were wounded in a strike on the courtyard of the al-Ahli Hospital, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. It did not immediately identify the journalists or say which outlets they worked for.

The Israeli military said it was looking into reports on the strike at al-Ahli. The army claims to only target militants and blames civilian deaths on Hamas because it is embedded in populated areas.

Israel has claimed, without evidence, that many of those killed in its strikes were Palestinian fighters posing as reporters.

The US used its veto on Wednesday to block a United Nations resolution calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

All 14 other members of the council voted in favour of the resolution, which described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as “catastrophic” and called on Israel to lift all restrictions on the delivery of aid to its 2.1 million residents.

Acting US ambassador Dorothy Shea claimed the resolution would undermine the security of Israel as well as diplomatic efforts to reach a ceasefire “that reflects the realities on the ground.”

Israel’s UN ambassador Danny Danon said the resolution’s failure to make the release of hostages a condition for a ceasefire would have put all the pressure on Israel and handed Hamas “time, leverage and political cover.”

Palestinian ambassador Riyad Mansour said Palestinians are now urging governments to take “real measures” to pressure Israel to get out of Gaza before it implements what he called an Israeli plan “to destroy our people.”

The Chinese ambassador, Fu Cong, said Israel’s actions have “crossed every red line” of international humanitarian law and seriously violated UN resolutions. “Yet, due to the shielding by one country, these violations have not been stopped or held accountable.”