The Israeli military says its troops have discovered the physique of a Bedouin Arab hostage held by Hamas in Gaza, in addition to proof suggesting one other might also have died.
The physique of Yousef Zyadna, 53, was recovered on Tuesday in an underground tunnel in southern Rafah.
The troops additionally made what the navy described as “findings … that increase critical considerations” for the lifetime of his son, Hamza, 22, who was additionally kidnapped by Hamas gunmen within the Oct. 7 assault 2023 in southern Israel.
That day two of Hamza’s siblings, Aisha and Bilal, have been seized together with them close to the Israel-Gaza perimeter fence. But they have been amongst 105 hostages launched throughout a weeklong ceasefire that November.
The information about Yousef Zyadna got here shortly earlier than US Secretary of State Antony Blinken advised reporters that US, Qatari and Egyptian mediators have been “very shut” to brokering a brand new ceasefire and hostage launch settlement between Israel and Hamas.
“I hope we recover from the hump within the time we now have,” he mentioned, referring to President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20.
Israel launched a marketing campaign to destroy Hamas in response to the October 7, 2023 assault, wherein round 1,200 individuals have been killed and 251 taken hostage. Israel says 95 of the hostages stay in Gaza, of whom 34 are presumed useless.
According to the native well being ministry, run by Hamas, greater than 45,930 individuals have been killed in the course of the 15 months of warfare.
