By TIA GOLDENBERG and MELANIE LIDMAN, Related Press
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli forces have recovered the physique of a hostage held in Gaza, the army mentioned Wednesday, including that it was figuring out extra stays that might belong to a different captive held within the war-torn enclave.
The army 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.
Hamas has been designated as a terrorist group by america, Canada and the European Union.
Yosef AlZayadni’s title was on an inventory of 34 hostages shared by a Hamas official with The Related Press earlier this week that the 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 kids, had been taken captive throughout Hamas’ assault on southern Israel in October 2023, amongst 250 hostages snatched by the group.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed sorrow and mentioned in an announcement 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 warfare 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 kids, 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 kids. His teenage youngsters, 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 hundreds of thousands extra dwell in Gaza and below Israeli army occupation within the West Financial institution.
Eight members of Israel’s Bedouin minority had been kidnapped within the Oct. 7, 2023, assaults.
Israel’s warfare in opposition to Hamas in Gaza has since killed over 45,800 Palestinians, in keeping with 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 army says it has killed over 17,000 fighters, 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.
Lidman reported from Tel Aviv, Israel.
Initially Printed: January 8, 2025 at 12:08 PM EST
