A U.S. dual national who was among some 240 people seized during the Oct 7 cross-border rampage by Hamas in southern Israel has died in captivity in the Gaza Strip, a group representing hostages' families said on Friday.
Gadi Haggai, 73, also held Israeli citizenship, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said.
A U.S. dual national who was among some 240 people seized during the Oct 7 cross-border rampage by Hamas in southern Israel has died in captivity in the Gaza Strip, a group representing hostages' families said on Friday.
Gadi Haggai, 73, also held Israeli citizenship, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said. Drawing on various information sources, an Israeli government-appointed committee has been declaring some hostages dead in absentia.
Hamas has generally not confirmed these accounts, but has warned that "time is running out" for the hostages as the Palestinian militants' war with Israel nears its 12th week.
According to an official Israeli tally, 129 people remain held in Gaza after the rest were repatriated in a November truce or recovered during a military offensive. Of those still in Gaza, 22 are dead, the Israeli government says.
The forum said that between five and 10 of the hostages hold U.S. citizenship. The U.S. Embassy had no immediate comment.
Writing by Dan Williams; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama
Hamas wants a comprehensive deal to end the war in Gaza and swap all Israeli hostages for Palestinians jailed in Israel, a senior official from the Palestinian militant group said, rejecting Israel's offer of an interim truce.
Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Sa’oud bin Abd Al-Rahman Al Thani posted and hastily deleted an X message this week endorsing Hamas, proclaiming, “We are all Hamas… Oh Al-Quds, revolt and commemorate Al-Qassam!”
In a meeting held Thursday in Moscow, Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, blamed Israel for failing to uphold a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, originally brokered in January by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States.
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