The Israeli military announced on Wednesday that it had recovered the body of Yosef Al Zaydani, a hostage who Hamas had held in Gaza.
Troops are examining whether another body found in the same operation might also belong to a captive.
According to the military, Al Zaydani’s body was discovered in an underground tunnel near Rafah, a city in southern Gaza.
His remains were brought to Israel on Tuesday. During the operation, troops uncovered information regarding Al Zaydani’s son, Hamzah, which raised “serious concerns” about his fate. Both Yosef and Hamzah were taken captive on October 7, 2023, during Hamas’ large-scale cross-border raid that resulted in the abduction of approximately 250 individuals.
Earlier in the day, Israel’s Defense Minister reported the recovery of two hostages’ bodies. However, it remains unclear if the second body in the same tunnel belongs to another captive.
The recovery of Al Zaydani’s body comes as Israel and Hamas weigh the terms of a potential ceasefire that could involve the release of hostages in exchange for halting military operations in Gaza.
Yosef and Hamzah Al Zaydani were initially believed to be alive, and their fate could heighten calls for Israel to finalize a deal. Families of hostages have expressed growing concern that ongoing military actions put the remaining captives at risk.
Hamas had previously listed Yosef Al Zaydani among 34 hostages slated for release in a potential agreement. However, with Israel estimating that approximately one-third of the remaining 100 hostages are already deceased, families have increasingly demanded urgent negotiations to secure the safe return of their loved ones.
The situation remains dynamic as pressure mounts on all sides to resolve the intensifying humanitarian and military crisis in Gaza.
