Israeli army announces death of hostage held in Gaza

The Israeli army and the Hostage Families Forum announced, Monday June 24, the death of a soldier, killed on October 7 during the Hamas attack in Israel and whose body had been taken to the Gaza Strip . Until now presumed hostage of Hamas, Sergeant Major Mohammad Alatrash “fell in combat and then was held hostage by a terrorist organization”the army announced in a statement.

The Hostage Families Forum said “deeply mourn the loss of Sergeant Major Mohammad Alatrash”, “Fallen in combat on October 7 then taken to Gaza by Hamas terrorists.” He “leaves behind two wives and 13 children”, added the main hostage association in its press release. It also released a video from October 7 showing the kidnapping by Hamas fighters of three Israelis who had taken refuge in a shelter after fleeing the Nova festival.

“We will not end the war until we bring home every one of our 120 beloved ones”, reacted the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. He said on Sunday that he was “ready to conclude a partial agreement” to enable us to bring back “a part” hostages, which hostage relatives have criticized.

Of 251 people kidnapped on October 7, 116 are still being held in Gaza, 42 of whom are dead according to the army. With the death of Sergeant Major Mohammad Alatrash, the number of victims killed during the bloody Hamas attack rose to 1,195, the majority civilians, according to an AFP count based on official Israeli data.