IDF confirms Israeli soldier in latest Hamas propaganda video died in captivity
Two additional soldiers were killed in action in Gaza
The Israeli army announced the death of 19-year-old IDF Cpl. Noa Marciano who was kidnapped on Oct. 7 and has since been held hostage by Hamas inside the Gaza Strip.
A propaganda video showing Marciano was published by the Hamas terror group on Monday evening. In the clip, she is at first seen alive and reading a propaganda message but, following a video cut, the clip returns to show what Hamas claims to be her dead body, alleging she was killed by an Israeli airstrike.
The IDF didn’t use the Hamas video as evidence but reached the conclusion that Marciano had died based on military intelligence, Army Radio reported.
The army said the ultimate reason for her death is not yet clear.
Marciano’s family was informed of the IDF’s conclusion and the Military Rabbinate’s decision to declare her deceased, even though her body isn’t in Israel's hands.
In order to begin the traditional Jewish mourning customs, including the act of sitting for seven days of mourning called “shiva,” a body must be verifiably dead. Alternatively, incontrovertible evidence of the death has to be presented.
“Our hearts go out to the Marciano family; their daughter, Noa, was brutally kidnapped by the terrorist organization Hamas. The IDF, together with all the institutions, will continue to accompany the Marciano family, as well as all the families of the kidnapped and missing,” the IDF stated.
“We are working with all means, intelligence and operational, in order to return the abducted and the abductees home," the statement continued.
"A representative of the IDF came to the family’s house and informed them about the publication of the video. Hamas continues to use psychological terror and behaves inhumanely, using videos and photos of the hostages as it has done in the past.”
In addition, the IDF confirmed the deaths of two other soldiers.
Sgt. Roee Marom, 21 years old, from Ra’anana, served as a squad commander in the 906th Battalion and the Haruv commando unit and was killed in action in the north of the Gaza Strip.
Master Sgt. (res.) Raz Abulafia, 27 years old from Rishpon, was a fighter in the 12th Negev Reserve Brigade and fell in battle in the northern Gaza Strip.
The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
