The Israeli military confirmed on Friday that one of the bodies found in Gaza earlier this week was that of 23-year-old hostage Hamzah AlZayadni.
His body was recovered with that of his father, Yosef AlZayadniwhich were taken together when Hamas-led militants invaded southern Israel 15 months ago. His father was quickly identified, while his son’s remains were sent for examination.
In recent weeks, Israel and Hamas appear to have moved closer to an agreement on a ceasefire and the release of hostages. Palestinians and family members of hostages killed in captivity are pleading with the Israeli government and world leaders for a ceasefire agreement.
Gaza’s health ministry announced Thursday that 46,006 Palestinians have been killed and 109,378 wounded in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. More than half of the dead are said to be women and children, but the ministry does not differentiate between combatants and civilians in its death tolls.
The Israeli army claims to have killed more than 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. He blames Hamas for civilian deaths because he says the militants operate in residential areas.
Israeli air and ground operations have forced hundreds of thousands of Palestinians into tent camps along the coast with limited access to food and other necessities.
The war began when Hamas-led militants invaded southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and kidnapping around 250. A third of the 100 hostages still being held in Gaza are believed to be dead.
