Following updated information and after consulting with experts, the IDF has confirmed the deaths of Yagav Buchstab and Alex Danzig, who were abducted to Gaza on October 7.
The two were reportedly killed a few months ago in Khan Younis, and their bodies are still held by Hamas. The IDF is also investigating whether their deaths resulted from IDF operations in the area. This confirmation increases the number of deceased hostages to 46 out of a total of 120.
Alex Danzig, who recently turned 76, was taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz. Born in Poland and a respected historian, Danzig was known for his work on Holocaust research and his trips to Poland.
Yagav Buchstab (34) was kidnapped from his home in Kibbutz Nirim along with his wife Rimon Kirshat, 36, who was released from captivity in a hostage deal on November 28, after more than 53 days in Hamas captivity.
Information about Yagav's fate had ceased with his abduction, while his wife Rimon, who was kidnapped with him, appeared in a video released by Hamas and was later freed in the first hostage deal.
Kibbutz Nirim's announcement: "With deep sorrow and great pain, we have now learned of the murder of our son and friend Yagav Buchstab in Hamas captivity in Gaza. We share and participate in the heavy mourning of Esther, Oren, Nofar, Yuval, Hadar, Rimon, Carmela, and the entire family, and we embrace them."
According to reports, Rimon refused to be released without him until the moment when Hamas terrorists told her she would go with them "willingly" or they would drag her on the ground.
Her moment of release, when she lifted her head and stood tall facing a Hamas terrorist, even uttering a few words passionately, went viral. Afterwards, she wrapped her arm around Merav Tal's shoulder, who was released with her, and they walked out hugging.
The last contact with them was at 09:00. Esther, Yagav's mother, who serves on the emergency team of Nirim, said: "I spoke with Yagav, he said there were terrorists behind his house. At that point, I already knew that the terrorists had killed a father and daughter in their neighborhood, but I refrained from telling him. Later, when they began a preliminary search of the kibbutz, they found nothing in their home."
* Kann 11 News and Channel 12 contributed to this article.