An Argentine-Israeli teenager who was taken hostage by Hamas during the October 7 attacks was found dead in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed on Friday.
Ron Sherman was 19-years-old and was part of the IDF, serving in a border unit controlling the entry of goods to Gaza. He was captured the day in which the militant group, deemed a terrorist organization by the U.S., launched a wide-ranging attack, killing 1,200 people and taking some 240 hostage.
Sherman managed to send a series of text messages to his family alerting them of the situation: "There are terrorists here. Hamas is in the base," Ron said to his father before being taken. "I can't talk anymore, it's the end. I love you, bye," read the messages sent by Sherman, who was also the nephew of famous Argentine singer León Gieco.
Nik Belzer, also 19, was found along Sherman. French-Israeli Elia Toledano, 28 years-old and who had been taken hostage at the Nova music festival, where some 360 people were killed, was also found. It is believed that some 130 hostages remain in Gaza, not all of them alive.
The bodies of hostages CPL Nik Beizer, 19, and SGT Ron Sherman, 19, who were abducted by Hamas on October 7th, have been recovered from Gaza during operational activity and returned to Israeli territory.
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) December 15, 2023
The IDF sends the families its heartfelt condolences and will continue to…
At least 10 Argentines have died as a result of Hamas' attack. Nine others were released during the exchange between Israel and Hamas and another nine remain in Gaza. Four of them stand out as they are a family of four, including a 10-month-old baby and a four-year-old child.
Hamas said in late November that Shirli Bibas and her sons, Kfir and Ariel, have died as a result of Israeli bombings. However, it's worth mentioning that Hamas has made claims of this kind in the past that were later proven false. It was the case of Jana Katzir, a 77-year-old woman who was then among the first hostages released.
According to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, the war has killed more than 18,700 people, mostly women and children. Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari said troops were engaged in fighting with militants in two districts of Gaza City late Thursday.
"There will be more tough battles in the days to come," he said. The Israeli military on Friday said a total of 117 troops have died in Gaza since the start of the ground offensive.
While the United States has strongly backed Israel's response to Hamas's attacks, it has pressed its ally to do more to minimize civilian casualties.
On Thursday, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met in Tel Aviv with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. During their meeting, Gallant warned that Israel's fight with Hamas "will last more than several months, but we will win and we will destroy them."
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