Announcing the killing of Israeli hostage Hamza Zayadna in Gaza

Hamza Zayaden, an Israeli Arab citizen held hostage in Gaza, was killed in the Palestinian enclave, the Israeli military said on Friday, as efforts by mediators to broker a truce between Israel and Hamas to release the hostages had little success.

More than 15 months after the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, which led to the war in Gaza, there are still about 98 hostages in Gaza. Israeli authorities assume that about 36 of them died.

Confirmation of Mr Ziadna’s death comes a day after family and friends buried his father, Youssef Ziadah, 53, who was also taken hostage. The Israeli army said that their bodies were found together in a tunnel under the city of Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, alongside their dead kidnappers. It is not clear when they were found or how the Ziadnis family died.

Prior to their discovery, neither hostage had been classified as dead by Israeli officials, who sought to use intelligence to assess the condition of the remaining hostages. This is likely to heighten fears among the families of the remaining prisoners in Gaza that their relatives may have already suffered the same fate.

Some hostages were killed in Israeli air strikes, while Israel said others were executed by their captors. Nadav Shoshani, an IDF spokesman, said on Wednesday – after Yousef Zayadna’s death was confirmed – that the army was still investigating the matter.

Bashir Ziadni, his cousin, said the family had hoped the captives would survive their ordeal, and was shocked by their deaths. Many Israelis – especially hostage families – say the Israeli government could have done more to reach a ceasefire agreement with Hamas to free the remaining hostages.

He added that Hamza’s angry relatives expelled an Israeli government minister who tried to attend Hamza’s funeral on Friday.

He added, “The failure to release the hostages was a result of the decisions this government has taken and is still taking.” “If they wanted to return the hostages, they could have done so.”

Arab citizens of Israel, such as Hamza and Youssef Zayaden, were not spared from Hamas’ attack. At least 17 people were killed and several others were taken hostage. About 1,200 people were killed in the attack and 250 others were taken hostage, according to Israel.

Many of them belong to the Bedouin Arab minority, a group that has long lived on the margins of Israeli society. Historically, many Bedouins became nomadic pastoralists, and now reside in a range of towns and villages across southern Israel, some of which lack basic government services such as running water and electricity.

Hamza Ziadani (23 years old) was held hostage with his father and two younger brothers, Bilal and Aisha, in the Israeli kibbutz where his father worked. Bilal, 18, and Aisha, 17, were released during a week-long truce in November 2023 in which 105 Israeli and foreign hostages – mostly women and children – were exchanged for 240 Palestinian prisoners.

Bashir Ziadna, their cousin, who spent months demanding their release, said their kidnapping put Ziadna’s family in a difficult position. He said some Palestinians viewed them as traitors and accused them of “discussing our pain without discussing the pain in Gaza,” which contributed to the family’s eventual retreat from public advocacy.

The Hostage Families Forum, which represents relatives of prisoners, said that Hamza Ziadeh left behind his wife and two children. The group described him in a statement as “a nature lover who had a deep affection for animals and was loved by his friends.”

The group said in a statement: “Four family members were kidnapped, and only two of them were able to return alive.” “Youssef and Hamza, who survived the hell of captivity in Gaza, could have been saved with a previous agreement.”

Months of efforts to bridge the gaps between Israel and Hamas over a ceasefire and hostage release agreement have not borne fruit. Qatar and Egypt also led the talks brokered by the Biden administration.

Biden said on Thursday that “real progress” had been made in the negotiations, without providing further details. Officials on all sides have repeatedly expressed optimism about a breakthrough over the past few months, but saw hopes dashed a few days later by new obstacles.

For months, Israel and Hamas have compromised seemingly irreconcilable terms in order to reach an agreement. Hamas demands an end to the war and a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza as part of any agreement to release the hostages. Israeli leaders said they would not end the war before Hamas was destroyed in Gaza and pledged to maintain dominant security control there.

Michael D. Share He contributed reporting from Washington.