Another hostage in Gaza declared dead

The 39-year-old left behind 13 children by two women. The Israeli army confirmed the death of the soldier with the rank of sergeant major. He belonged to the Israeli army's Bedouin tracker unit.

Around a fifth of the almost ten million Israelis are Arabs. They are exempt from military service, but can volunteer.

According to recent statements by its spokesman Osama Hamdan, the Islamist terrorist organization Hamas does not know how many of the 120 or so hostages believed to be in Gaza are still alive. It is feared that the majority of them are dead. The Wall Street Journal recently reported, citing mediators in the indirect negotiations between the parties to the conflict and a US official familiar with US intelligence information, that the number of hostages still alive could be as low as 50. This estimate was based in part on Israeli intelligence information.

Efforts have been underway for months to persuade Israel to agree to a ceasefire and Hamas to release the Israeli hostages through indirect negotiations - so far without success.