Israel confirms deaths of two hostages in Gaza
The Israeli military said on Monday it had confirmed the deaths of two hostages held by Hamas in Gaza based on new intelligence information.
Israeli hostages Alex Dancyg, 75 (left) and Yagev Buchstav. Photos courtesy the families
The Israel Defence Forces said it believes that Alex Dancyg, 75, and Yagev Buchshtav, 35, were held together in Khan Yunis and died several months ago while forces were active in the southern Gaza city.
The IDF did not elaborate on the circumstances of Dancyg and Buchstav’s deaths, citing an ongoing probe. The army did acknowledge the possibility they were killed by friendly fire.
The deaths were declared by a panel of health experts and rabbis. Overall, 44 hostages whose bodies remain in Gaza have now been declared based on intelligence.
Dancyg and Buchstav were both residents of Kibbutz Nirim. Buchstav’s wife, who was also kidnapped, was released on November 28 during a temporary ceasefire.
Dancyg, a Polish-Israeli, was born in Warsaw in 1948. He worked as a historian and educator at Yad Vashem. He frequently worked with Israeli tour guides who led annual high school trips to the concentration camps in Poland.
“Today, we deeply grieve the loss of our cherished and esteemed colleague, Alex Dancyg,” expressed Yad Vashem Chairman Dani Dayan. “Just yesterday, we marked Alex’s 76th birthday, filled with the hope that he would soon return to us alive and well. Alex’s essence embodied both in spirit and substance, his love for the land and thirst for knowledge. His vast library at his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz reflected his deep connection between his cherished Israeli and Jewish identity and his Polish birthplace. Alex successfully integrated these perspectives into his teaching of the events of World War II in general, and of the Holocaust in particular.
Alex worked together with Yad Vashem as a true partner in creating and leading training courses for guides of Israeli youth trips to Poland and in Holocaust education in Poland for educators and clergy, including many Jewish participants. Alex was a remarkably multifaceted individual, well versed in Polish culture and Judaism, and the complex historical relationship between the Polish and Jewish people. He was a model family man and a proud tiller of our land.
Alex’s passion and contributions to Holocaust education left an indelible mark on our collective understanding of this dark chapter in history.
Buchstav was a musician and soundman known for building electric guitars and other instruments.
In March, Hamas claimed without verification that Buchstav died from lack of food and medication while Dancyg was killed by Israeli fire.
At least 1,200 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas’s attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 116 remaining hostages, more than 44 have been declared dead.
