Israel, on Monday, confirmed the deaths of two hostages seized by the Palestinian militant group Hamas during the October 7 attacks, including a prominent Polish-Israeli historian.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said in a statement that the families of Alex Dancyg, 76, and 35-year-old Yagev Buchshtab have been informed of their deaths in captivity.

Hamas is still holding their bodies, the IDF said.

The decision to publicly confirm the two men’s deaths is based on intelligence information and was approved by an expert committee.

The circumstances of death while in Hamas custody are being investigated, the military said.

A body established by the relatives of those abducted on October 7 called the ‘Missing Persons Families Forum’, and the hostages led tributes to the two men.

Mr Dancyg, a Polish historian, had worked at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem and dedicated himself to fostering closer relations between Israel and Poland, including organising school trips.

Hostages who were freed in negotiations between Israel and Hamas said Mr Dancyg had given history lessons during their captivity in Gaza.

“Yagev and Alex were captured alive and should have returned alive to their families and their country,” the forum stated.

It called the deaths a tragic consequence of delays in negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza, which would involve the release of the 120 remaining hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

The forum demanded that the Israeli government immediately agree to a hostage deal. “Every week that passes means less time for the hostages,” it said.

(dpa/NAN)