The Israeli navy mentioned on Friday that Hamza Ziyadne, an Arab citizen of Israel held hostage in Gaza, had been killed within the Palestinian enclave, as efforts by mediators to dealer a truce between Israel and Hamas to free hostages have seen little success.
Over 15 months after the Hamas-led assault on Oct. 7, 2023 prompted the battle in Gaza, round 98 hostages stay in Gaza; roughly 36 are presumed lifeless by the Israeli authorities.
The affirmation of Mr. Ziyadne’s demise comes only a day after household and pals buried his father, 53-year-old Youssef Ziyadne, who was additionally taken hostage. The Israeli navy mentioned their our bodies been discovered collectively in a tunnel beneath the southern Gaza metropolis of Rafah alongside their lifeless captors. It was not clear once they had been discovered.
Earlier than they had been discovered, neither hostage had been designated as presumed lifeless by Israeli officers, who’ve sought to make use of intelligence to evaluate the situation of the remaining hostages. That was prone to additional escalate fears among the many households of the remaining captives in Gaza that their kinfolk may need already suffered the identical destiny.
It was not instantly clear how the Ziyadnes died: Some hostages have been killed in Israeli airstrikes, whereas Israel has mentioned that others had been executed by their captors. Nadav Shoshani, an Israeli navy spokesman, mentioned on Wednesday — after Youssef’s demise was confirmed — that the navy was nonetheless investigating.
Israel’s Arab residents, like Mr. Ziyadne, weren’t spared in Hamas’s assault. At the very least 17 had been killed and several other others taken hostage. Round 1,200 individuals had been killed within the assault and 250 taken hostage, in keeping with Israel.
Many, like Mr. Ziyadne, belonged to the Bedouin Arab minority, a gaggle that has lengthy lived on the margins of Israeli society. Traditionally nomadic herders, many Bedouins now reside in a constellation of cities and hamlets all through southern Israel, a few of which lack primary authorities providers like working water and electrical energy.
Hamza Ziyadne, 23, was taken hostage alongside his father and two youthful siblings, Bilal and Aisha, whereas on the Israeli kibbutz the place his father labored. Bilal, 18, and Aisha, 17, had been freed throughout a weeklong truce in November 2023 by which 105 Israeli and overseas hostages — largely girls and youngsters — had been freed in alternate for 240 Palestinian prisoners.
The Hostages Household Discussion board, which represents the captives’ kinfolk, mentioned that Hamza Ziyadne was survived by his spouse and two kids. In a press release, the group described him as a “nature lover who had a deep affection for animals and was beloved by his pals.”
“4 members of the family had been kidnapped, with solely two returning alive,” the group mentioned in a press release. “Youssef and Hamza, who survived a interval within the hell of Gaza captivity, might have been saved by means of an earlier settlement.”
Months of efforts to bridge the gaps between Israel and Hamas on a cease-fire and hostage launch deal have did not bear fruit. Qatar and Egypt have led the talks, that are additionally being brokered by the Biden administration.
On Thursday, Mr. Biden mentioned that “actual progress” was being made within the negotiations, with out offering additional particulars. Officers on all sides have repeatedly voiced optimism over a breakthrough over the previous a number of months, solely to see hopes dashed a number of days later over new obstacles.
For months, Israel and Hamas have leveled seemingly irreconcilable situations for an settlement. Hamas has demanded an finish to the battle and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza as a part of any deal to launch hostages. Israeli leaders have mentioned they won’t finish the battle earlier than Hamas is destroyed in Gaza and vowed to keep up overriding safety management there.
Michael D. Shear in Washington contributed reporting.
