The Israeli military announced on Wednesday that they have recovered the body of a hostage held in Gaza and are currently examining whether another body found is also that of a captive. Israel's defense minister had earlier confirmed the recovery of the bodies of two hostages.
The body of Yosef Al Zaydani was retrieved and brought to Israel after being discovered in an underground tunnel near Rafah, a city in southern Gaza. Information uncovered about Al Zaydani's son, Hamzah, has raised concerns about his well-being. The military is now working to confirm the identity of a second set of remains that were recovered.
Yosef and Hamzah Al Zaydani were among the 250 hostages taken by Hamas during an attack on October 7, 2023. Israel estimates that a third of the remaining 100 hostages are deceased.
The recovery of the bodies comes at a critical juncture as Israel and Hamas are contemplating a ceasefire agreement that would involve the release of hostages and cessation of hostilities in Gaza. The fact that Yosef and Hamzah Al Zaydani were believed to still be alive could intensify pressure on Israel to proceed with the deal.
Yosef Al Zaydani's name was included in a list of 34 hostages provided by a Hamas official to The Associated Press, indicating that they were slated for release. Families of the hostages have expressed concerns that the ongoing conflict in Gaza poses a threat to the lives of those still held captive. Throughout the conflict, they have been urging Israel to negotiate with Hamas for the release of their loved ones.
