**Body of Hostage Found in Gaza**
The Israeli military has found the body of a Bedouin Arab man held by Hamas. The man, named Yousef, was 53 years old. His body was discovered on Tuesday in an underground tunnel near Rafah.
Yousef’s son, Hamza, was also taken by Hamas during a raid on southern Israel in October. Two of Hamza’s siblings were released along with 105 other hostages in November. The Israeli military believes another hostage may have died as well.
This news comes just before US Secretary Antony Blinken announced that mediators are close to brokering a ceasefire and hostage-release deal between Israel and Hamas. Israel has been trying to destroy Hamas since the attack on October 7, which killed over 1,200 people and took 251 hostages.
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