Worthy Christian News > Israel-Palestinian Conflict > Remains Of Young Man Believed To Be Israeli Hostage Found In Grave

Remains Of Young Man Believed To Be Israeli Hostage Found In Grave

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – A photo was shared Friday of murdered Elyakim Shlomo Libman, who was previously believed to be among the Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

The human remains of the young man were found in the grave of a woman killed on October 7, his family said Friday.

They were among some 1,200 people massacred by Hamas in Israel on what became known as the “Black Sabbath.”

Hundreds were taken hostage by Hamas fighters on that Saturday, October 7, in what the Israeli government viewed as the worst atrocities against Jews since the Holocaust, also known as the Shoah.

Hamas and associated terror groups were still holding about 133 hostages on Friday, although dozens are feared dead, Israeli sources said.

Libman, 23, will be remembered as the dedicated security guard at the Nova Music Festival when he rescued several people from the Hamas massacre, Israelis said.

While Hamas fighters raped, tortured, and killed many, he reportedly still managed to rush several festivalgoers to safety. Libman then went back a final time to risk his life to save others. He never returned.

QUESTIONS REMAIN

It remained unclear Friday how his body got into the grave in Gush Dan, also known as the Tel Aviv metropolitan area.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the discovery, saying that the IDF and the National Institute of Forensic Medicine had investigated the grave.

Officials explained that his human remains were discovered near a woman who was murdered with him “in the Reim parking lot” close to the Gaza border.

ZAKA, Israel’s leading non-governmental rescue and recovery group, opened dozens of graves in the last few weeks until they found DNA from part of Libman’s mouth in the grave in the Gush Dan area, Israeli media reported.

The gruesome discovery was due to increased pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to bring at least the remaining hostages home after several anti-government rallies.

Hamas was told by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken this week to accept the latest proposal for a cease-fire with Israel that would free hostages and pause the nearly seven months of war in Gaza.

Blinken stressed in Israel that the “time is now” for an accord, but doubts remained whether the deal would ultimately end Israel’s offensive as Hamas has demanded.

Israel says it wants to “eradicate terrorist group Hamas” to prevent further tragedies that killed Libman and many others.