Israeli-American soldier declared dead after being held by Hamas

The Israeli military announced on Monday that another hostage held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip has been confirmed dead.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated on social media platform X that the victim was a 21-year-old Israeli-American soldier, originally from New York.

The soldier, a tank commander, was captured during the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, and has been held in Gaza ever since.

According to IDF intelligence, he was killed during the initial attacks.

The Hostages, an advocacy group representing families of those still held by Hamas, confirmed the soldier’s abduction along with other Israeli troops during the deadly assault.

On October 7, Hamas and other extremist groups crossed into Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages.

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Israeli launched a fierce response, with airstrikes and a ground offensive in Gaza. Since the war began, at least 44,000 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-controlled health authority.

Currently, around 100 hostages remain unaccounted for, many of whom are feared to be dead, including several with dual nationalities, such as U.S. citizens.