Israel mentioned on Saturday its particular forces had recovered the physique of a hostage killed whereas being held captive in Gaza, because the Palestinian enclave’s dominant Islamist motion Hamas mentioned it could participate in a brand new spherical of ceasefire talks in Cairo.
Nearly six months into the battle, Israel has confronted protests at house demanding a deal to free the dwindling variety of stay hostages from Hamas’ Oct. 7 cross-border rampage. Western nations, in the meantime, have voiced outrage over what they see as an unacceptably excessive Palestinian civilian toll and the accompanying humanitarian disaster.
The physique of Elad Katzir, a 47-year-old Israeli farmer, was unearthed by commandos in southern Khan Younis in a single day, the army mentioned. He had been killed by his Palestinian Islamic Jihad captors and buried there in mid-January, it mentioned, citing intelligence details about which it declined to elaborate.
Islamic Jihad, an ally of Hamas, had no rapid remark.
Katzir was amongst 253 folks dragged into Gaza by Hamas-led gunmen who killed some 1,200 others in southern Israel, in line with official tallies, sparking an offensive that medics within the enclave say has killed greater than 33,000 Palestinians.
His father Avraham was killed of their kibbutz, Nir Oz, and his mom Hanna was additionally taken hostage however freed in November underneath a truce.
Qatari and Egyptian mediators have been making an attempt to safe one other deal that may return a number of the 129 remaining hostages in an extended ceasefirein Gaza.
The Gaza Well being Ministry on Saturday reported one of many lowest every day demise tolls in six months, saying 46 Palestinians had been killed in Israeli strikes over the previous 24 hours.
The Gaza-based ministry doesn’t distinguish between combatants and non-combatants in its reviews however native well being officers say most the fatalities have been civilians. Israel says not less than a 3rd are fighters.
Hamas on Saturday mentioned its fighters focused three Israeli tanks in Khan Younis with missiles, inflicting casualties. There was no rapid remark from the Israeli army, although it mentioned earlier that troops had engaged with gunmen within the space.
TALKS
Angered by an Israeli air strike that killed assist staff in Gaza, U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday urged an “rapid ceasefire” and for Israel to spice up humanitarian aid measures.
Israel later authorized the reopening of the Erez crossing into northern Gaza and the short-term use of Ashdod port in southern Israel.
Jamie McGoldrick, U.N. assist coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, welcomed the Israeli measures on Saturday. “We stand able to work with all events to alleviate the struggling of individuals in Gaza,” he mentioned in an announcement.
Hamas mentioned it could ship a delegation to Cairo on Sunday for a brand new spherical of mediated talks. Israel was undecided on whether or not to attend, an Israeli official mentioned, citing concern that the occasion could be “extra political theatre than precise progress”.
Hamas needs any deal to result in an finish to the battle and withdrawal of Israeli forces. Israel has mentioned that, after any truce, it could topple Hamas, which is sworn to its destruction.
Protests in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem calling on the Israeli authorities to safe a hostage launch had been set to happen on Saturday and Sunday, which marks six months because the Oct. 7 assault.
In a Jan. 8 video posted by Islamic Jihad on-line, Katzir mentioned: “I used to be near dying greater than as soon as. It’s a miracle I’m nonetheless alive … I need to inform my household that I really like them very a lot and I miss them very a lot.”
Based mostly on varied sources of knowledge, Israel has declared not less than 35 hostages as lifeless in Gaza captivity. Palestinian factions have mentioned some had been killed in Israeli strikes. Whereas confirming this in a number of instances, Israel says that, in others, hostages whose our bodies had been recovered bore indicators of execution.
