International

Israeli Army Confirms Deaths of Hostages Held by Hamas

The Israeli army confirmed the death of two men who were taken hostage by Hamas on October 7, 2023. "Today, the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) informed the families of the two hostages, Alex Dancyg and Yagev Buchshtab, that they are no longer alive," said a statement by the Israel Defense Forces on X (formerly Twitter).

"Alex and Yagev were kidnapped and taken to Gaza, and their bodies are still held by Hamas. The confirmation of their deaths comes after a thorough review of information by a commission of experts approved by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Ministry of Religious Services and the Israeli Police," the statement added.

"The circumstances of their deaths in Hamas captivity are being examined by all competent authorities," the statement continued.

"We remain committed to gathering information about the hostages in Gaza and will continue to provide support to the hostages' families during this difficult time," the statement said, as cited by Sky News.

Buchshtab, a 35-year-old sound technician, and Dancyg, a 76-year-old historian, were kidnapped from their homes near the Gaza border during the attack in October last year.

Talks to achieve a ceasefire, in an agreement that would include the release of approximately 120 Israeli prisoners held in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, are expected to resume at the end of this week.

On Monday, the Israeli army ordered the evacuation of part of an area in Gaza that was initially designated as a humanitarian zone. The army stated that it intends to begin an operation against Hamas militants who, in its opinion, have infiltrated the area.

Translation by Iurie Tataru

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