The IDF discovered the bodies of hostages Youssef Ziyadne (53) and his son Hamza (22) during ongoing operations in the Gaza Strip, the victims’ family announced on Wednesday. The father and son from the Bedouin town of Rahat were working in Kibbutz Holit when they were kidnapped on October 7, 2024, by Hamas.
The IDF says they’ve only recovered the body of Youssef in a Gaza tunnel. Evidence of his son Hamza was also present at the scene and they fear for his life. Also discovered were the bodies of the guards holding them.
Two more of Youssef’s children, Bilal and Aisha, were also kidnapped at the same time where later released on November 30, 2023 during the temporary ceasefire. It was assumed until now that Youssef and Hamza were still alive.
“Our hearts ache,” Ali Ziyadne, Youssef’s brother, told Israel’s Ynet news outlet. He added, “We wanted them to return to our family alive, but unfortunately they returned dead. Aisha and her brother Bilal were waiting to hug them. This is a difficult and shocking disaster.”
Content from JNS was used in this report.
