By Jerusalem, Israel – Israel declared two more of its hostages held in Gaza as dead on Monday, amidst ongoing ceasefire negotiations aimed at the release of approximately 120 captives. The announcement comes as talks are set to resume later this week.
The Israeli military reported it is still investigating the deaths of the two hostages, Yagov Buchshtab, a 35-year-old sound technician, and Alex Daneyz, 76, a historian, who were abducted from their homes in Kibbutzim near the border with Gaza during Hamas’ October 7 attack on southern Israel.
An Israeli negotiation team is due on Thursday to set off to mediate Gaza ceasefire talks that would include the issue of hostages being released in return for Palestinian prisoners.
“Yagov and Alex were taken alive and should have returned alive to their families and to their country,” the Hostage Families Forum said in a statement. “Their death in captivity is a tragic reflection of the consequences of foot-dragging in negotiations.”
Daneyz also had Polish citizenship, and Poland’s foreign ministry expressed sorrow over his death. Poland will continue to demand the unconditional release of all the abductees from Gaza,” the ministry stated.
Israeli authorities have so far pronounced dead in absentia around a third of the hostages still held in Gaza.
