Israeli soldier Oz Daniel, 19, was tragically killed on October 7, with his body being taken to Gaza, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Sunday. Daniel, who was among the hostages believed to be alive, was sadly among the 30 hostages who lost their lives on that fateful day, out of a total of 130, with 100 still believed to be alive.
The IDF posthumously promoted Daniel from corporal to sergeant, as he was described by the Hostage and Missing Families Forum as a talented guitarist who believed in the power of music to change the world. Daniel was part of the tank crew stationed on the Gaza border on October 7 and was known for idolizing the band Guns N’ Roses.
His funeral is set to take place on Monday at the Kfar Saba military cemetery, even though his body remains in Gaza. In a significant development, Israel will be sending a negotiating team to Qatar to continue talks on the release of hostages and a possible halt to military operations in Gaza, as revealed by an Israeli official speaking to CNN.
This move comes after an Israeli delegation, including Mossad Director David Barnea, participated in talks with top officials from the CIA and Egypt in Paris on Friday. Qatar and Egypt have been acting as intermediaries in discussions between Hamas and Israel, who do not directly engage with each other.
As negotiations continue, Hamas leader Dr. Bassem Naim told CNN that there has been no progress in talks between the two sides. While Israel remains committed to bringing back all hostages, Hamas has outlined key demands including a sustainable ceasefire, the end of military presence in Gaza, and lifting the siege on the region.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also expressed a desire for a peaceful resolution, stating that all parties are working towards securing the release of remaining hostages. However, challenges remain as Hamas continues to push for what Netanyahu described as “crazy demands.” Despite these obstacles, efforts are ongoing to reach a consensus for the safe return of all hostages.