Tel Aviv, December 22 (IANS). The Israeli community of Kibbutz Nir Oz announced the death of a 73-year-old resident who was abducted by Hamas during an attack on 7 October.
The community identified the deceased hostage as Gadi Haggai (73). However, he did not reveal the cause of death or how he received the information.
“Haggai's body is still in the hands of Hamas,” the community said.
Gadi Haggai was the father of four children and grandfather of seven. His wife Judith is also held captive by Hamas and is believed to have been injured during the October 7 attack.
During a one-week temporary ceasefire between Hamas and Israel from November 24 to December 1, Hamas released 105 hostages, while 129 hostages are still in Hamas captivity.
The Israelis believe that at least 20 of the remaining 129 hostages have died.
There are thousands of Palestinians in Israeli prisons, held without trial and without legal counsel.
The Palestinian Prisoners Club said Israeli forces have arrested more than 4,655 people in the occupied West Bank since October 7.
After Hamas attacked Israel in a surprise attack on October 7, Israel launched a ground offensive inside Gaza on October 27, killing 1,200 Israelis and taking more than 200 hostage.
Since the beginning of the war between Hamas and Israel, more than 20,000 Palestinians have been killed, mostly children and women, while 52,286 Palestinians have been injured.
–IANS
MKS/ABM
