The destruction ordered by Israeli forces in Gaza.
Jerusalem: Israeli soldiers have recovered the body of a 53-year-old man from an underground tunnel in southern Gaza, amid US President-elect Donald Trump’s warning to Hamas to release hostages. This has created a stir. The army gave this information on Wednesday. The army is investigating whether the second body found near him is that of his son.
The body of Youssef Alzaydani was found amid negotiations regarding a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. An agreement could lead to the release of people held hostage in Gaza while bringing an end to the war. Israel has declared many of the 100 hostages dead, although it believes about half may be alive. It is believed that Yusuf and his son Hamza Alzaydani may have been alive for some time before their bodies were found on Wednesday.
Increased pressure on Israel
Alzaidni’s death has put pressure on Israel to move forward with the agreement. Alzaydani and his three children were among 250 hostages taken by Hamas militants in southern Israel. 1,200 people were killed in the Hamas attack. The Hostages Families Forum, a group representing relatives of hostages, said Alzaydani, a father of 19 children, worked on a dairy farm in Kibbutz Holit for 17 years. AlZaydani’s teenage children Bilal and Aisha were released along with about 100 hostages under a one-week ceasefire agreement in November 2023.
Israel and Hamas close to agreement
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday that Israel and Hamas are “very close” to a ceasefire and hostage agreement. Blinken said he hoped a deal could be reached before President-elect Donald Trump hands over power to the administration later this month. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed grief over the news of AlZaydani’s death. (AP)
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