Bodies of both Yosef and Hamzah were recovered on January 8. While that of Yosef was identified on January 8, the same of Hamzah바카라™s was identified on January 10.
Israel바카라™s army on January 10 identified the body of 23-year-old hostage Hamzah AlZayadni. This comes after the body of his father, 52-year old Yosef AlZayadni was recovered and identified from Gaza on January 8. Both were taken hostages when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel 15 months ago, news agency AP said. His father was quickly identified, while his son바카라™s remains were sent for verification.
In recent weeks, Israel and Hamas have seemingly moved closer to reaching an agreement for a ceasefire and the release of hostages. Palestinians and the families of hostages who were killed in captivity have been urging the Israeli government and world leaders to secure a ceasefire deal.
Israeli officials have launched an investigation into the circumstances of Yosef바카라™s death and whether the remains of his son, 23-year-old Hamzah, were also recovered in the same tunnel. Military spokesperson Col. Nadav Shoshani expressed concerns that Hamzah might have perished in captivity, further deepening the anguish of the AlZayadni family, who were part of the 250 hostages taken during Hamas-led raids into Israel in October 2023.
The discovery of Yosef바카라™s body comes amid delicate negotiations for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which would include the release of the remaining hostages. Israel has confirmed that around a third of the 100 hostages still held by Hamas have died, though there is still hope that many others may be alive. Yosef and Hamzah had been among those thought to still be alive until this heartbreaking turn of events.
The Hostages Families Forum, which represents the families of those held by Hamas, criticized the delay in securing a ceasefire, stressing that each day the hostages remain captive increases the risk to their lives. "Yosef should have been brought back alive," the Forum said in a statement following news of his death.
Gaza바카라™s Health Ministry said Thursday that 46,006 Palestinians have been killed and 109,378 wounded in the Israel-Hamas war, with no end in sight. It has said women and children were more than half the fatalities but does not say how many of the dead were fighters or civilians.