The bodies of 53-year-old Youssef Zayada and his son, Hamza, 22, who were taken hostage in the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas, were found in Gaza Strip and returned to Israel, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Kats announced today.

Until today, father and son were considered living by Israeli authorities. Their bodies were found in a tunnel in the Gaza Strip, according to the Times of Israel.

“I would like to express my sincere condolences to the al-Zayyada family after the bodies of Yousef and Hamza, who were kidnapped by Hamas terrorists on October 7, were found and their bodies were returned thanks to a heroic operation by our brave soldiers,” Katz said in a post on X.

Yousef Zayyada was kidnapped by Hamas militants in the October 7, 2023 attack, along with three of his children, Hamza, 18-year-old Bilam and 17-year-old Aisha, in kibbutz Holit. Bilal and Aisha were released following an Israel-Hamas agreement on 30 November 2023.