Murneri buries one of the last hostages released from Gaza, against the background of the cessation of fire

Murnators in Israel buries the remains of one of the last hostages launched in the first phase of ceasing the fire between the militants in Hamas and Israel.

The ceremony took place while the negotiators discussed a second phase of the agreement that could conclude the war in Gaza and see the rest of the live hostages returning home.

The funeral procession for Tsachi Idan, an avid fan Hapoel Tel Aviv, who was 49 years old when he was abducted by the Hamas militants, started from a football stadium in Tel Aviv, continuing to the cemetery where he was to be buried in a private ceremony.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Mr. Idan, who was taken from Kibbutz Nahal Oz during the attack led by Hamas, on October 7, 2023, which aroused the war in Gaza, was killed in captivity.

His body was one of the four released by Hamas overnight on Wednesday until Thursday, in exchange for over 600 Palestinian prisoners, the last planned change of the first fire cessation, which started in January.

Mr. Idan was the only one in his family who was taken to Gaza. His eldest daughter, Maayan, was killed while the militants shot through their door safe.

The Hamas militants broadcast on Facebook Live, holding the Idan family hostage in their home, while his two young children pleaded with the militants to leave.

“My brother is the true hero. He continued, “said Mr. Idan’s sister, Noam Idan Ben Ezra, in an interview on the Israeli radio on Friday.

She said that Mr. Impan was “a rhythm far” since the release during a short ceasefire in November 2023, when over 100 of the 251 people abducted on October 7 were released.

“Tsachi has been left twice. The first time she was abducted from home and the second time the transaction exploded, ”she added.

“The fact that Tsachi is not near me today is the result of making decisions and politics here in Israel. They didn’t listen to us then, but it’s not too late to listen to us today. “

The relatives of the hostages still held in Gaza increase pressure on Mr. Netanyahu to ensure the release of loved ones.

According to Israel, 32 of the 59 hostages still in Gaza are dead and has become more and more concerned about the well -being of an unknown number, who are still alive, especially after three hostages who were released February 8 came out of captivity in a clearly emaciated state.

One of the three, Eli Sharabi, said in an interview with Channel 12 of Israel that he and other hostages were kept in iron chains, hungry and sometimes beaten or humiliated.

“In the first three days, my hands are tied behind the back, my feet are tied, with ropes that end in your meat and a little food, a little water during the day,” he said, in one of the first interviews of a hostage launched within the current agreement.

“I remember that I could not fall asleep because of the pain, the ropes are already digging in your meat, and every move makes you want to scream.”

Mr. Sharabi found only after his release that his wife and daughters were killed during the attack on October 7.

Under the conditions of the armistice of Israel and Hamas they agreed, phase 2 of the ceasefire is meant to involve negotiations regarding the conclusion of the war that devastated the Gaza strip.

This includes the return of all living hostages and the withdrawal of all Israeli troops from the Palestinian territory. The return of the bodies of the remaining deceased hostages would take place in phase 3.

The officials in Israel, Qatar and the United States have started “intense discussions” on the second phase of ceasing fire in Cairo, the State Information Service in Egypt said. Mr. Netanyahu’s office confirmed that he had sent a delegation to Cairo.

“Mediators also discuss ways to improve the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza strip, as part of the efforts to mitigate the suffering of the population and to support stability in the region,” his statement said.

The first phase of fire cessation recorded 33 hostages, including eight bodies, released in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.

Mr. Netanyahu promised to return all the hostages and destroy the military and government capabilities of Hamas, who remains under the control of Gaza. The Trump administration approved both goals.

But it is not clear how Israel would destroy Hamas without resuming the war, and Hamas is unlikely to release the remaining hostages – his main negotiation chips – without a long -term fire.

After suffering heavy losses in the war, the militant group still appeared intact and says he will not give up his weapons.

The return of fire, intermediate by the United States, Egypt and Qatar, ended 15 months of war that broke out after Hamas’s attack in 2023 on South Israel, which killed about 1,200 people.

The military offensive of Israel killed over 48,000 Palestinians, according to Palestinian health officials, who do not differ between civil and combatants, but say that over half of the dead were women and children.

The fight moved about 90% of the Gaza population and devastated the infrastructure and health system of the territory.