Israel Confirms Deaths of Two Hostages Held by Hamas

The Israeli army confirmed the deaths of two more citizens who were abducted by the extremist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip. One of the deceased hostages was a prominent Israeli historian. Hamas is recognized as a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union. On Monday, August 1, the Israeli army informed the families of Professor Alex Dantzig and Yegov Buchstau that they were killed in the Khan Younis area. According to Israeli media, the army has 'confirmed' the deaths of these two hostages based on its ongoing investigations and recent intelligence, but is still examining the possibility of their deaths resulting from Israeli fire. The army stated that it is investigating the exact timing of the deaths of these two hostages. Four months ago, Hamas claimed that Yegov Buchstau died due to a lack of medicine and food, while Alex Dantzig was killed by Israeli fire. The army had previously confirmed the deaths of four other hostages during operations in Khan Younis. One of those four hostages, Yoram Metzger, 86, was among the oldest hostages held by Hamas and was a peace activist with Palestinians. Alex Dantzig had sent a WhatsApp message to his son at 8:30 AM on the day of Hamas's attack on Israel on October 6 last year, informing him of the entry of Hamas attackers into their kibbutz named 'Nir Oz.' One of the Israeli women who was kidnapped and released about six weeks after the start of the Gaza war recounted that this history professor was teaching history to her and several other hostages. Alex Dantzig was a Holocaust museum historian and a recipient of multiple awards. He was also a farmer and irrigation manager in the kibbutz 'Nir Oz.' Mr. Dantzig, who immigrated from Poland to Israel as a child and whose family were Holocaust survivors, also held Polish citizenship. Hashtags supporting Alex Dantzig, an important figure in strengthening relations between Poland and Israel, were installed in public places in Poland. Yuval Dantzig, Alex Dantzig's son, met with the President of Poland to secure his father's release. Rimoun, the wife of Yegov Buchstau, who was abducted with him from the kibbutz 'Nirim,' was held by Hamas for about eight weeks. Yegov was a guitarist and musician. According to Israeli media, Benjamin Netanyahu, who left Tel Aviv on Monday for a speech in Congress and a meeting with Joe Biden, became aware of the deaths of the two hostages during his flight to Washington. With the deaths of these two hostages, the number of Israeli abductees whose deaths the Israeli army considers confirmed but whose bodies are held by Hamas has increased to 46. Israel has recently continued indirect negotiations with Hamas, mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, for the alive or dead status of 120 of its hostages. Four of the deceased include two soldiers and two Israeli civilians whose bodies have been held by Hamas for ten years. In recent days, the families of Israeli hostages have urged Benjamin Netanyahu to finalize a deal with Hamas before his trip to the United States. Hamas abducted 251 citizens of this country during its attack on Israel nine and a half months ago and took them to Gaza. 115 Israelis and several foreign workers held by Hamas were released by the second month after the Gaza war. Now, 290 days have passed since the devastating and costly Gaza war, and there is still no prospect for a ceasefire. The Israeli Prime Minister emphasizes 'complete victory' and the realization of the war's objectives. 'Attack by a Canadian man with a knife hours after arriving in Israel.' The Israeli police reported that a Canadian citizen who arrived in Israel on a flight from Canada on Sunday night attacked security forces in the settlement of Nativ Ha'Asara with 'a knife in hand' on Monday, August 1, and was killed in response by these forces. Israeli media reported that the 'Canadian saboteur' arrived near the entrance to the settlement of Nativ Ha'Asara in a rented car and shouted in English: 'People in Gaza are being killed by the Israeli army.' Reports indicate that the attacker 'attacked security forces guarding the settlement with a knife.' The settlement of Nativ Ha'Asara was among the locations in southern Israel that members of the extremist group Hamas attacked on October 6 last year. The Canadian embassy in Tel Aviv or other Ottawa government officials have not yet commented on the death of the Canadian citizen in Israel.