Media names hostage who died next to rescued captive al-Qadi as Aryeh Zalmanovich

After a former Rahat mayor said rescued hostage Farhan al-Qadi had told him another captive died next to him at one point during his time in Gaza, Hebrew media names that hostage as Aryeh Zalmanovich, 85, whose death was confirmed in December.

There is no comment from the Israel Defense Forces or from the Hostage Families Forum.

“He said that one of the hostages, who was with him for two months, died next to him,” Ata Abu Madighem said in comments to the press broadcast Tuesday on Channel 12 news after meeting with al-Qadi in Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba.

“This story is breaking his heart. He has many [terrible] memories. But ultimately, he is talking about being saved, rescued.”

Abu Madighem, speaking to Kan TV, said the hostage who died was a Jewish man, adding he was not allowed to give more details.