Danish-Israeli hostage reported dead by Hamas

Hamas declared Israeli-Danish hostage Itzik Elgarat dead on March 9th. This was announced by Hamas spokesperson Abu Ubaida on a Telegram channel linked to the movement, as reported by TV2. David Baker, spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was unable to provide assistance regarding the case. TV2 correspondent Rasmus Tantholdt stressed the uncertainty surrounding Elgarat’s death and cautioned against hastily accepting the claim without solid evidence. Daniel Elgarat, the brother of the hostage, told Tantholdt that Israeli intelligence fears his brother might be dead, but there’s no official confirmation owing to insufficient information. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said that efforts were ongoing to bring the hostage home from Gaza. The Danish Foreign Ministry confirms knowledge of Hamas’s claim but cannot verify it and remains in close liaison with the Israeli authorities on the personal matter.