Son of slain Israeli hostage Yair Yaakov speaks out as his father’s body is returned from Gaza

Fourteen-year-old Yagil Yaakov, the son of slain hostage Yair Yaakov – whose body was returned from the Gaza Strip this week by the IDF – spoke about his father at a press conference last week.

“My father came home, but not as we dreamed. Dad was a simple man with a huge heart. He loved the land of our country, the fields, nature, and the small, simple things in life. He always taught us to appreciate what we have, to smile, to be happy, and to try to be content – even when it’s hard,” Yaacov said.

He called for the return of the remaining hostages, saying, “We also want to remind everyone that there are still 53 hostages who are waiting to return home. We pray that each and every one of them will return soon."

Yair and his partner, Meirav Tal, were abducted and taken to Gaza from their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz on Oct. 7, 2023 – just one day after the family celebrated Yair’s 59th birthday. Yair was later murdered in captivity. His sons, Yagil and Or, who were abducted separately from their mother’s nearby home, were held in Gaza until their release in November 2023 as part of a temporary ceasefire deal brokered by Qatar and the United States.

Or Yaacov posted a story on Instagram on Wednesday expressing his heart towards his dad and thanking the Israeli military: "Dad, I love you. I still don't know how to react, I'm sad to say. I'm waiting for your funeral. I love you, I knew this day would come. Thank you to the IDF and Shin Bet forces for the recovery. I hope the rest of the hostages will be brought back with a deal so soldiers aren't endangered."

In November 2023, after 52 days in Hamas captivity, Yagil was seen on video calling for the release of his father.

"I miss my dad like crazy and also all the friends from the kibbutz who are still in Gaza. I want to tell Bibi Netanyahu that I really need my dad at home. I’m waiting for him to celebrate my bar mitzvah. The more time passes, the greater the danger that he and all the friends there are in. We don’t leave hostages behind."

Fifty three hostages remain in Hamas captivity, 20 of whom are believed to be alive.