The body recovered in Gaza has been identified as 23-year-old hostage Hamzah AlZayadni

The Israeli army has confirmed that one of the bodies recovered from Gaza earlier this week belongs to 23-year-old hostage Hamzah AlZayadni.

His remains were recovered alongside those of his father, Yosef AlZayadni. Both were abducted during the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel 15 months ago. While Yosef's body was identified promptly, Hamzah's required further verification.

In recent weeks, Israel and Hamas have shown signs of nearing an agreement for a ceasefire and the release of hostages. Families of hostages and Palestinians have been urging the Israeli government and global leaders to broker a ceasefire deal. 

 Gaza's Health Ministry reported Thursday that 46,006 Palestinians have been killed and 109,378 wounded in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, with no resolution in sight. The ministry stated that women and children account for more than half of the fatalities but did not specify how many of the dead were civilians or fighters.

The Israeli military claims to have killed over 17,000 militants, though it has not provided supporting evidence. It attributes civilian casualties to Hamas, accusing the group of operating within residential areas. Israel's air and ground offensives have displaced hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, forcing them into overcrowded tent camps along the coast with limited access to food and essential supplies.

The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants launched an assault on southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and abducting around 250. Of the 100 hostages still believed to be held in Gaza, a third are presumed dead.