Israeli army confirms death of Gaza captive
A military statement says the family of Hamza Ziyadne, 22, has been informed that his body was identified by forensic units.
The Israeli forces located and returned the bodies of Youssef Ziyadne, his 53-year-old father, and Hamza from an underground tunnel in the Rafah area in southern Gaza.
“Hamza and Youssef were abducted alive on October 7 and were killed in Hamas captivity,” the military said.
Israeli abductees ‘could have been saved’: Captive families
Bring Them Home, a forum of captives’ families in Israel, says Hamza and his father Youssef Ziyadne could have been returned alive in a deal with Hamas after their bodies were brought back from Gaza.
Israeli soldiers located and returned the bodies of Youssef, 53, and Hamza, 22, from an underground tunnel in Rafah, southern Gaza.
They were taken on October 7, 2023, from the Holit settlement by Palestinian fighters along with Hamza’s siblings Bilal, 18, and Aisha, 17.
“Hamza Ziyadne was a man of nature. He loved animals and was loved by his friends,” the forum said on X. “Four family members were kidnapped and only two of them returned alive. Youssef and Hamza, who survived a period of hell in Hamas captivity, could have been saved in a deal prior to now.”
Most of Israeli captives held in north Gaza ‘now missing’: Qassam Brigades
A leading source from the armed wing of Hamas has told our colleagues at Al Jazeera Arabic that due to Israel’s military operation, most of the Israeli captives held in northern Gaza “are now missing”.
The source added that Qassam Brigades “had repeatedly warned against reaching this result” and criticised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli army. “[Qassam Brigades] once again holds the enemy government and its army fully responsible for the lives and fate of their prisoners,” the source said.
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