Israel confirms two more hostages – Alex Dancyg, Yagev Buchstab - have died in Hamas captivity

Israel investigating cause of death; Hamas accuses IDF of killing them

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Israel Defense Forces on Monday confirmed the death of two additional male hostages, Alex Dancyg (75) and Yagev Buchstab (35) who were abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz and Kibbutz Nirim by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7.

The IDF notified the families of both hostages that their loved ones had been killed by Hamas during their captivity in Khan Younis. Their bodies are still being held by the terrorists in Gaza.

According to the IDF statement, the decision to determine their deaths was based on intelligence gathered recently and was approved by an expert committee of the Ministry of Health in cooperation with the Ministry of Religious Services and the Israel Police.

The two men reportedly died inside a house where they were being held, while the IDF was operating in the city of Khan Younis. However, the military was unable to determine whether they were murdered by their captors or killed accidentally as a result of Israeli military activity. The circumstances of their deaths are currently being examined by authorities.

Buchstab was abducted together with his wife Rimon, who was released in the hostage exchange deal on Nov. 28. Rimon said she and her husband were held initially together but separated only after Hamas threatened to drag her away by force.

Kibbutz Nir Oz announced "the murder of the late Alex Dancyg in captivity in Gaza, after suffering torture of body and soul for months. His body is still in captivity.”

The statement referred to 75-year-old Dancyg as “a bridge between worlds.”

“He devoted his life's work to studying and training about the Holocaust and Polish-Jewish relations. At the same time, he worked for many years to cultivate the kibbutz fields. Alex's memory will be etched in our hearts as a man who is a bridge between different worlds: between the spirit and the book; and the land and the fields; between Israel and Poland; between Holocaust and rebirth."

Other hostages who were released from captivity in late November said Dancyg, a historian, would give lectures on historical topics to the other abductees being held with him.

Kibbutz Nirim released the following statement: “It is with deep sorrow and great pain that we have now been informed of the murder of our son and friend Yagev Buchstab in Hamas captivity in Gaza. We share in the heavy mourning of Esther, Oren, Nofar, Yuval and Hadar, Rimon, Carmela and the whole family, and embrace them.”

The Hostages Families Forum said the announcement of their deaths increases the urgency to secure a hostage release deal.

“The devastating news this morning of their deaths is further proof of the urgency of returning the hostages who are in immediate danger of death at any moment in Hamas’ hell,” the forum said in a statement. “Yagev and Alex were kidnapped alive and should have returned alive to their families and to their country.”

The Tikvah Forum (Hope Forum), which does not support any hostage deal that includes a permanent ceasefire, stated: “This shocking murder in Hamas captivity proves to us again and again and again who is standing in front of us. After brutally raping, slaughtering, and killing on Simchat Torah, they continue to abuse our abductees in the Gaza Strip. We call on the prime minister, the political cabinet, and the military echelon to continue to strike and pressure Hamas so that we can return all the hostages as soon as possible. They don't have time and only aggressive military pressure will bring our children's return home, with the rest of the hostages, closer.”