The Israel Defense Forces and Defense Minister Israel Katz announced Wednesday evening that the bodies of Youssef and Hamza Ziyadne, who were abducted by Hamas on October 7, 2023, were discovered in the southern Gaza Strip.
The military confirmed Youssef’s death and expressed grave concerns for the life of his son, Hamza, age 23. Katz’s statement specified that Hamza’s body had also been found.
According to the IDF, troops, in coordination with the Shin Bet, located Youssef Ziyadne’s body in an underground tunnel in Rafah and returned it to Israel. The military also reported finding evidence connected to Hamza that raised concerns about his fate.
The Ziyadne family, members of the Israeli Bedouin community from Rahat near Beersheva, were directly affected by the events. Youssef, aged 53 and the father of 19 children, was abducted from Kibbutz Holit while working on a farm with his children Hamza, Bilal, and Aisha. Bilal and Aisha were returned to Israel during a ceasefire agreement in late November 2023.
Youssef’s brother, Ali, expressed the family’s deep sorrow, emphasizing their wish to have welcomed their loved ones back alive. Reports from Army Radio revealed that Youssef’s body was found during an operation in Rafah, where intelligence led IDF and Shin Bet forces to a concealed tunnel. The operation also uncovered the bodies of two or three individuals believed to be captors.
The tunnel in question was separate from the network where Bedouin hostage Farhan al-Qadi had been rescued and where six other hostages were previously discovered. The circumstances surrounding Youssef’s death remain unclear, though military sources suggest it occurred some time ago. Search efforts continue in the area where the bodies were recovered.
Defense Minister Katz extended condolences to the Ziyadne family, noting his personal connection to Youssef’s brother, Ali, and highlighting their joint efforts to share the family’s story internationally.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog also offered their sympathies, expressing sorrow for the family’s loss and pledging to continue efforts to rescue remaining hostages. Both leaders emphasized the urgency of resolving the plight of the captives and returning them to their families.