The Israeli military said its forces found the body of an Arab Bedouin hostage held by Hamas in Gaza, as well as evidence indicating that another may also be dead.
The body of Youssef Ziadna (53 years old) was recovered from an underground tunnel in the southern Rafah area on Tuesday.
The forces also reached what the army described as “findings…that raise serious concerns” for the life of his son Hamza (22 years old), who was also kidnapped by Hamas gunmen during the October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel.
Two of Hamza's siblings, Aisha and Bilal, were arrested near the border fence between Israel and Gaza that day. But they were among 105 hostages released during a week-long ceasefire in November that year.
The news regarding Youssef Ziadna came shortly before US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters that US, Qatari and Egyptian mediators were “very close” to brokering a new ceasefire and hostage release agreement between Israel and Hamas.
“I hope we can get over the line in the time we have,” he added, referring to the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump on January 20.
Israel launched a campaign to destroy Hamas in response to the October 7, 2023 attack, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 hostages were taken. Israel says 95 hostages remain in Gaza, including 34 presumed dead.
More than 45,930 people have been killed in Gaza during the 15-month-old war, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry in the Strip.
