JERUSALEM — Israeli forces have recovered the physique of a hostage held in Gaza, the navy mentioned Wednesday, including that it was figuring out further stays that might belong to a different captive held within the war-torn enclave.
The navy mentioned it recovered the physique of Yosef AlZayadni, 53, from an underground tunnel throughout an operation within the southern Gaza metropolis of Rafah. It mentioned it discovered proof that raised “serious concerns” for the lifetime of AlZayadni’s son Hamzah, who was additionally taken captive on Oct. 7, 2023, suggesting he could have died in captivity.
Yosef AlZayadni’s identify was on a listing of 34 hostages shared by a Hamas official with The Related Press earlier this week that the militant group mentioned had been slated for launch.
Israeli Protection Minister Israel Katz had mentioned earlier Wednesday that troops recovered the our bodies of each Yosef and Hamzah AlZayadni.
AlZayadni and his son, together with two of his different youngsters, had been taken captive throughout Hamas’ assault on southern Israel in October 2023, amongst 250 hostages snatched by the militant group.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed sorrow and mentioned in a press release he had “hoped and worked to bring back the four members of the family from Hamas captivity.”
Many households of hostages say the continuation of the conflict in Gaza places the lives of the remaining hostages in danger. They’ve demanded all through the battle that Israel attain a take care of Hamas to free their family members.
AlZayadni, who had 19 youngsters, had labored on the dairy at southern Israel’s Kibbutz Holit for 17 years, mentioned the Hostages Household Discussion board, a bunch representing the households of captives. AlZayadni was kidnapped with three of his youngsters. His teenage children, Bilal and Aisha, had been launched in a weeklong ceasefire deal in November.
The household had been members of the Bedouin neighborhood, a part of Israel’s Palestinian minority who’ve Israeli citizenship. The historically nomadic neighborhood is especially impoverished in Israel and has suffered from neglect and marginalization. Palestinians make up some 20% of Israel’s 10 million inhabitants, and tens of millions extra reside in Gaza and beneath Israeli navy occupation within the West Financial institution.
Eight members of Israel’s Bedouin minority had been kidnapped within the Oct. 7, 2023, assaults.
Israel’s conflict towards Hamas in Gaza has since killed over 45,800 Palestinians, in response to the territory’s Well being Ministry. It doesn’t say what number of had been fighters, however says girls and kids make up over half the fatalities. The navy says it has killed over 17,000 militants, with out offering proof.
Israel has destroyed huge areas of the impoverished territory and displaced some 90% of its inhabitants of two.3 million, usually a number of occasions.