The Israel Defense Forces confirmed Monday that two more hostages died while in Hamas captivity — including the husband of the brave woman who was pictured starring down her terrorist captor during her release in a now-iconic photo.
Israelis Alex Dancyg, 76, and Yagev Buchshtav, 35, were confirmed to have died several months ago while being held together in Khan Younis, the IDF said, citing new intelligence from its operation in the Gaza Strip.
The IDF did not elaborate on the state of the victim’s bodies and said it is currently investigating the circumstances of their deaths.
Hamas had claimed earlier this year that Buchshtav died due to lack of food and medication and that Dancyg had been killed as a result of an Israeli strike.
Buchshtav, of Kibbutz Nirim, was the husband of Rimon Kirsht, who was released during the November hostage exchange with Hamas.
Krisht, who was hailed a “hero” after delivering a piercing “death glare” to her captors, had demanded they release her husband along with her or else she would not comply with the hostage exchange.
“Hamas terrorists told her, ‘You have two options: Either get released willingly or we’ll drag you on the floor.’ They didn’t leave her a choice,” a family member of Kirsht told Israel Hayom at the time.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the Buchshtav and Dancyg families,” the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement.
“This morning’s devastating news about their deaths serves as yet another stark reminder of the urgency to bring home the hostages, who face immediate mortal danger every moment in Hamas’ hell.”
Yuval Dancyg, Dancyg’s oldest son, lamented the death of the Jewish-Polish activist in a heartbreaking letter on Instagram.
“My dear father, This is not how it was supposed to end,” Yuval wrote. “You were abducted alive and breathing from your bed that cursed morning and you had to return home alive and complete us.
“Sorry we failed in this mission,” the son wrote.
Israel has now confirmed the deaths of at least 44 of the some 120 hostages who remain in Hamas captivity since the Oct. 7 terrorist attack.
While the families of the victims have asked for privacy, Israel’s Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial issued a statement regarding Dancyg, the child of Holocaust survivors who spent his life educating others on the horrors of the attempted genocide of the Jewish people.
“Today, we deeply grieve the loss of our cherished and esteemed colleague, Alex Dancyg,” Yad Vashem head Dani Dayan said in a statement.
“Just yesterday, we marked Alex’s 76th birthday, filled with the hope that he would soon return to us alive and well,” Dayan added. “The news of his tragic death strengthens our commitment to ensure that Alex’s legacy and the stories he passionately preserved are never forgotten.”
