The Israeli military confirmed on Friday that Hamza Ziyadne, an Arab citizen of Israel who had been held hostage in Gaza since the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, has been declared dead. Alongside him, the body of his father, Youssef Ziyadne, was also found. The grim discovery was made amidst ongoing but unsuccessful negotiations aimed at securing a truce for the liberation of remaining hostages held by Hamas.

It has been over 15 months since the escalation of the conflict, resulting in approximately 98 hostages still in Gaza, with 36 presumed deceased according to Israeli military assessments. The Ziyadnes' bodies were reportedly discovered in a tunnel located under Rafah, southern Gaza, together with the bodies of their captors. However, details surrounding their deaths remain uncertain — some hostages have tragically been lost due to Israeli airstrikes, while others face execution at the hands of their captors, a matter still under military investigation.

The Hamas attack not only affected the Jewish population but also claimed the lives of 17 Israeli Arabs, with many others taken hostage. The overall death toll from the initial assault reached around 1,200 individuals, alongside hundreds kidnapped. In light of this tragic development for the Ziyadne family, anxiety mounts among the families of other remaining hostages regarding the fate of their loved ones amidst the stalled negotiations for their release.