Israeli soldiers discovered the body of 53-year-old Yosef AlZayadni in an underground tunnel in southern Gaza, raising “serious concerns” for his son Hamzah’s life. The military is investigating the circumstances behind Yosef’s death and determining if another set of remains belongs to Hamzah.
Yosef, a father of 19 children, was taken captive along with three of his children after Hamas militants stormed into southern Israel in October. His teenage daughter Aisha had been released earlier this month as part of a ceasefire deal.
The discovery comes as Israel and Hamas consider a potential ceasefire agreement that could free the remaining hostages in Gaza. The Israeli government has warned that up to half of its 100 captives may have died, including Yosef and Hamzah.
The AlZayadni family’s fate is expected to increase pressure on Israel to move forward with a deal. Relatives of the captives say they fear for their loved ones’ lives as long as the war in Gaza continues. The conflict has killed over 45,800 Palestinians and displaced nearly 90% of Gaza’s population.
A ceasefire agreement is reportedly “very close” according to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who hopes to see it implemented before handing over diplomatic efforts to President-elect Donald Trump’s administration next month.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-hostages-news-01-08-2025-5fd5a3229051f098ef1da834cd8f3c4e