On Wednesday, the IDF confirmed that it had recovered the body of Youssef al-Ziyadne, who had been taken hostage during the events of October 7th in the Gaza Strip. The IDF, in collaboration with the Israel Security Agency (ISA), announced that Youssef’s remains were retrieved from a tunnel in Rafah and returned to Israel. The statement clarified that Youssef had been abducted and killed while in captivity. During the operation, additional findings were uncovered regarding his son, Hamza al-Ziyadne, who had also been abducted on the same day, raising grave concerns for his survival. The National Institute of Forensic Medicine, along with the Israel Police, confirmed the identification, and the IDF’s Hostage team, responsible for supporting the families of the hostages, notified the respective families and communities. A statement from the family expressed their sorrow, saying, “Our hearts hurt. We wanted them to return to their families alive, but unfortunately, they returned dead,” although official news on Hamza’s fate is still awaited.
Youssef and Hamza, both residents of the Bedouin town of Rahat in the Negev Desert, were taken from Kibbutz Holit on October 7th. Along with the two men, Youssef’s young children, Aisha and Bilal, were also abducted, but they were released after 55 days as part of a hostage deal in November 2023. Youssef’s family had not known of his fate until a video surfaced showing him in the hands of the terrorist group.
Defense Minister Yisroel Katz expressed his condolences, saying, “I wish to express condolences to the al-Ziyadne family on the finding of the bodies of Youssef and Hamza who were abducted by the Hamas murderers on October 7th and were recovered in a heroic operation by our heroic troops. During my tenure as foreign minister, I accompanied this brave family through difficult times, and I especially connected with Ali, Youssef’s brother and Hamza’s uncle, who accompanied me on many of my diplomatic visits and meetings and shared Youssef and Hamza’s story with many leaders. “Now, during these moments as well, we continue to do everything to fulfill our top moral obligation – to bring all the hostages, those who are alive and those who aren’t, back to Israeli soil. The pain of the al-Ziyadne family is all of our pain, and Youssef and Hama’s memory will not be forgotten.”
President Isaac Herzog shared his sympathy, commenting, “Our hearts ache over the immense tragedy of the Ziyadne family, who received the devastating news that Israeli security forces had recovered the body of Youssef from Hamas captivity in Gaza, while they remain in deep anxiety over Hamza’s fate. “They have endured 460 days of worry, hope, and endless longing, during which Youssef’s children, Aisha and Bilal, were released in a hostage exchange.” He continued, “Time is running out. Youssef was abducted alive! Our hostages are in immediate life-threatening danger. We must continue to do everything possible to urgently return 99 of our brothers and sisters—the living to their families and the fallen and murdered to be laid to rest in dignity.”
The Tikva Forum released a statement, saying, “The hostages’ families from the Tikva Forum share in the sorrow of the family of Youssef and Hamza al-Ziyadne which will bury their loved ones, who were abducted on Simchat Torah, after they were freed by IDF forces from the Gaza Strip. “We thank the heroic IDF soldiers who work day and night to bring back our loved ones and many of them have lost their lives for this objective.”
The Hostages Families Forum also expressed its condolences, stating, “The Hostages Families Forum bows its head upon learning of the passing of Youssef al-Ziyadne, of blessed memory. We share in the profound grief of the al-Ziyadne family. “Youssef al-Ziyadne (53) was a man of dialogue and human connection, a pillar of strength for his family and an influential figure in his community. He worked at the dairy farm of Kibbutz Holit for 17 years, from where he was kidnapped along with his three children: Bilal and Aisha, who were released in the first deal, and Hamza, whose life is in grave danger.”
The Forum added, “The emerging agreement comes far too late for Youssef – who was taken alive and should have returned the same way. Every day in captivity poses an immediate mortal danger to the hostages who have managed to survive for 15 months and threatens the possibility of returning the deceased for burial. “The time and conditions are ripe for the return of all hostages – the living for rehabilitation and the deceased for proper burial. We anxiously await additional information regarding Hamza’s fate.”
{Matzav.com Israel}