The Israeli military says its troops have found the body of a Bedouin Arab hostage held by Hamas in Gaza, as well as evidence that suggests another may also be dead.
The body of Yousef Zyadna, 53, was recovered from an underground tunnel in the southern Rafah area on Tuesday.
The troops also made what the military described as “findings… which raise serious concerns” for the life of his son, Hamza, 22, who was also abducted by Hamas gunmen during the 7 October 2023 attack on southern Israel.
Two of Hamza’s siblings, Aisha and Bilal, were seized alongside them near the Israel-Gaza perimeter fence that day. But they were among 105 hostages released during a week-long ceasefire that November.
The news about 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 deal between Israel and Hamas.
“I hope that we can get it over the line in the time that we have,” he said, referring to the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump on 20 January.
Israel launched a campaign to destroy Hamas in response to the 7 October 2023 attack, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage. Israel says 95 of the hostages remain in Gaza, of whom 34 are presumed dead.
More than 45,930 people have been killed in Gaza during the 15-month war, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.