Israel announces deaths of two more hostages held by Hamas

JERUSALEM,— Israel announced the deaths of two additional hostages held in Gaza on Monday, as negotiations for a ceasefire deal that includes the release of approximately 120 captives are set to resume later this week.

The Israeli military is investigating the deaths of Yagev Buchshtab, a 35-year-old sound technician, and Alex Dancyg, a 76-year-old historian. Both were abducted from their homes in kibbutzim near the Gaza border during the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023.

An Israeli delegation is scheduled to depart on Thursday for mediated talks in Gaza. The negotiations will address the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

The Hostage Families Forum expressed their sorrow in a statement, saying, “Yagev and Alex were taken alive and should have returned alive to their families and to their country. Their death in captivity is a tragic reflection of the consequences of delays in negotiations.”

Dancyg, who also held Polish citizenship, was mourned by Poland’s foreign ministry. The ministry stated, “Poland will continue to demand the unconditional release of all the abductees from Gaza.”

To date, Israeli authorities have declared about one-third of the hostages still held in Gaza as dead in absentia. In June 2024, Israel stated its belief that more than a third of the remaining hostages in Gaza had likely perished.

During the October 7 attack, approximately 250 individuals were taken into Gaza by Hamas-led militants. In a subsequent truce in November 2023, scores of hostages were freed, while others have been recovered by Israeli forces, either dead or alive.

The government reports that 120 hostages remain in captivity, with 43 officially declared dead in absentia based on intelligence, CCTV footage, bystander videos, and forensic evidence.

Privately, some Israeli officials have suggested that the actual number of deceased hostages could be higher.

The October 7 attack, carried out by the Palestinian Islamic militant group Hamas, resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 individuals in southern Israeli communities and military bases.

Hamas, designated a terrorist organization by multiple countries, is reportedly holding 253 hostages in Gaza according to Israel’s military.

In retaliation for the October 7 assault, Israel launched a significant military operation aimed at dismantling Hamas. Israel vowed to eliminate Hamas, labeling the attack the deadliest Palestinian militant assault in Israeli history.

Hamas is designated a terrorist organization by numerous countries, including the United States, Canada, Egypt, the European Union, Israel, and Japan.

Gaza health officials associated with Hamas have claimed that over 39,000 Palestinians have been killed in the ongoing conflict. However, these figures are viewed with skepticism due to the officials’ affiliation with Hamas, and many believe the actual number of casualties to be significantly lower.

(With files from Reuters, Agencies)