A body found in Gaza has been confirmed to be 23-year-old hostage Hamzah AlZayadni

The Israeli military confirmed on Friday that one of the bodies found in Gaza earlier this week was that of 23-year-old hostage Hamzah AlZayadni.

His body was retrieved with that of his father, Yosef AlZayadni, who was taken with him when Hamas-led terrorists invaded southern Israel 15 months ago. The father was immediately identified, and his son’s remains were sent for confirmation.

In recent weeks, Israel and Hamas have appeared to be moving closer to a cease-fire agreement and the release of hostages. Palestinians and family members of hostages killed in exile have been calling on the Israeli government and world leaders for a ceasefire.

The Gaza Health Ministry said on Thursday that 46,006 Palestinians have been killed and 109,378 injured in the ongoing Israeli-Hamas war. It said women and children accounted for more than half of the dead, but the department did not distinguish between fighters or civilians in their death tolls.

The Israeli army claims to have killed more than 17,000 soldiers, without providing evidence. It blames Hamas for the deaths because it says the soldiers are working in civilian areas.

Israel’s air and ground operations have driven hundreds of thousands of Palestinians into overcrowded tent camps on the coast without access to food and other essentials.

The war began when terrorists led by Hamas invaded southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people and abducting about 250 people. A third of the 100 hostages still being held in Gaza are believed to have died.