The Israeli army announced that the body of the Bedouin hostage had been recovered from Gaza
Israel’s military says its troops have found the body of a Bedouin Arab held hostage by Hamas in Gaza, as well as evidence suggesting another may be dead.
The body of Yousef Zyadna (53) was pulled from an underground tunnel in the southern area of Rafah on Tuesday.
The soldiers also made what the military described as “discoveries … raising grave concerns” for the life of his son, Hamza, 22, who was also abducted by Hamas gunmen during an October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel.
Two of Hamza’s siblings, Aisha and Bilal, were caught with them near the Israel-Gaza fence that day. But they were among 105 hostages freed during a week-long truce that November.
The news of Yousef Zyadna came shortly before US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters that US, Qatari and Egyptian mediators were “very close” to brokering a new ceasefire and hostage release between Israel and Hamas.
“I hope we can get it done in the time we have,” he said, referring to the Jan. 20 inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.
Israel launched a campaign to destroy Hamas in response to an attack on October 7, 2023, which killed around 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. Israel says 95 hostages remain in Gaza, 34 of whom are presumed dead.
More than 45,930 people have been killed in Gaza during the 15-month war, according to the Hamas-run health ministry there.
