From the Liveblog of
Monday, July 22, 2024
IDF confirms deaths of hostages Alex Dancyg and Yagev Buchshtav in captivity
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
The Israeli military says it has confirmed the deaths of two hostages in Hamas captivity, after obtaining new intelligence information.
Alex Dancyg, 75, and Yagev Buchshtav, 35, were believed to have been held together by Hamas in Khan Younis and died several months ago, while the IDF was operating there.
The military did not detail the circumstances of their deaths, citing an ongoing probe. The possibility that they were killed by Israeli fire is being investigated.
Dancyg and Buchshtav were abducted by Hamas terrorists from their homes in Kibbutz Nir Oz and Kibbutz Nirim during the onslaught on October 7.
Their deaths were declared by a panel of health experts and members of the rabbinate, following new information obtained from by the IDF.
The IDF has now confirmed the deaths of 44 of the remaining 116 hostages held by Hamas since October 7. The terror group kidnapped 251 people during the onslaught. Hamas is also still holding the bodies of two soldiers since 2014 and two Israeli civilians who entered Gaza in 2014 and 2015.
Hamas in March claimed that Buchshtav had died due to lack of food and medication, and Dancyg had been killed by Israeli fire. The claims have not been confirmed by the IDF.
Buchshtav’s wife, Rimon Kirsht Buchshtav, was abducted with him and then released on November 28 in a hostage deal with Hamas.
