Body of Israeli hostage identified, two days after father’s: army

Published
0

The body of an Israeli hostage held captive in Gaza since the October 7 attack has been identified after his remains were recovered, the military said, AFP reports.

Following a forensic examination, the Israeli military said it notified the family of Hamza al-Zayadna that he “was killed in Hamas captivity,” after on Wednesday announcing that the body of his father Youssef had been recovered and brought back to Israel.

The Arab Bedouin father and son were seized by Palestinian militants from Kibbutz Holit near the Gaza border during the deadliest-ever attack on Israel. Kidnapped with them were Hamza’s sister and brother, who were released during a week-long truce in November 2023.

Unconfirmed reports had emerged on Wednesday on the fate of Hamza al-Zayadna, though the military confirmed his remains had been identified.

Opinion

Editorial

Swat bombing
Updated 04 Aug, 2026

Swat bombing

IT is a bitter irony that terrorists struck a protest against violence in Swat on Sunday, causing at least 17...
Tariff blow
04 Aug, 2026

Tariff blow

FOR an export sector already squeezed by high production costs, the additional 10pc tariff on top of the existing...
Perilous peaks
04 Aug, 2026

Perilous peaks

THE deaths of 10 climbers in an avalanche on Broad Peak is a sad reminder of the perils that many mountaineers face...
Farewell to arms?
Updated 03 Aug, 2026

Farewell to arms?

PALESTINIAN resistance group Hamas recently made a major concession by agreeing to give up its weapons. It should be...
Unplanned future
03 Aug, 2026

Unplanned future

A PROJECTION that Pakistan’s population could reach 400m by 2040 should not be treated as another dramatic number...
No more torture
03 Aug, 2026

No more torture

EVEN the best laws on the books are worth little unless the state shows the willingness to enforce them. This is...