Israeli army confirms death of two more Hamas hostages in Gaza Strip

Jerusalem, Jul 22 (EFE).- The Israeli army confirmed on Monday the death of two of the hostages that Hamas had been holding captive in the Gaza Strip since the October 7 attacks, in which 251 people were kidnapped.

“Army representatives today informed the families of Alex Danzig and Yagev Buchstab,” a military statement said, “that they are no longer alive and that their bodies are being held” in the Strip by Hamas.

With this announcement, the number of hostages killed, of the 116 still in Gaza, rises to 44, while the military recovered another 19 bodies of hostages, which were returned to Israeli territory.

“All authorities are investigating the circumstances of their deaths,” said the spokesman, who did not specify when they died or whether they died as a result of violence by the Islamist organisation or from Israeli fire.

The deceased are Yagev Buchstab, 35, and Alex Dancyg, who would have turned 76 yesterday.

The Israeli army confirmed on Monday the death of two of the hostages that Hamas had held captive in the Gaza Strip since the attacks on October 7, in which 251 people were kidnapped. “Army representatives informed the families of Alex Danzig and Yagev Buchstab today,” said a military statement, “that they are no longer alive and that their bodies are being held” in the Strip by Hamas. With this announcement, the number of hostages who have died, of the 116 who remain in Gaza, has risen to 44, while the military recovered another 19 bodies of hostages, which were returned to Israeli territory. The deceased are Yagev Buchstab, 35, and Alex Dancyg, who would have turned 76 yesterday. In the image, a photograph of Alex Dancyg. EFE/ Forum of Relatives of Hostages and Kidnapped People

Buchstab lived in the Kibbutz (agrarian community) of Nirim, just three kilometres from Gaza, where he was kidnapped along with his wife, Rimon Buchshtab-Kirsht, who was released after 50 days of captivity during the truce between Hamas and Israel at the end of November 2023.

Dancyg, on the other hand, was kidnapped in the Kibbutz of Nir Oz, one of the most affected by the attacks by Palestinian militants on October 7, in which some 1,200 people lost their lives, 46 of them in this town.

The Hostage Families Forum issued a statement after learning of his death, which it described as “a stark reminder of the urgency of bringing home the hostages, who face mortal danger at every turn in the Hamas hellhole.”

“His death in captivity is a tragic reflection of the consequences of the delay in negotiations,” they said, in a direct jab at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who they demand daily to sign a ceasefire agreement with Hamas that would allow for an exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners.

The organization called on the government to approve this agreement “immediately” to bring back the 120 hostages (116 kidnapped on October 7 and four captured previously), both alive and dead.

On Sunday evening, Netanyahu approved sending a negotiating delegation to the talks with Hamas on a ceasefire agreement, which have been taking place in Cairo and Doha in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, the president left for the United States on Monday, where he is scheduled to meet with President Joe Biden, whose diplomatic advisers travel constantly to Israel and the Middle East to play a mediating role in the talks.

The Israeli army confirmed on Monday the death of two of the hostages that Hamas had held captive in the Gaza Strip since the attacks on October 7, in which 251 people were kidnapped. “Army representatives informed the families of Alex Danzig and Yagev Buchstab today,” said a military statement, “that they are no longer alive and that their bodies are being held” in the Strip by Hamas. With this announcement, the number of hostages who have died, of the 116 who remain in Gaza, has risen to 44, while the military recovered another 19 bodies of hostages, which were returned to Israeli territory. The deceased are Yagev Buchstab, 35, and Alex Dancyg, who would have turned 76 yesterday. In the image, a photograph of Yagev Buchstab. EFE/ Forum of Relatives of Hostages and Kidnapped People

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