Two Israeli hostages have been found dead in the Gaza Strip.

Youssef al-Ziyadne, 53, and his son Hamza al-Ziyadne, 22, from the Bedouin town of Rahat in southern Israel

The family announced on Wednesday that they had been informed of the tragic news by the Israeli military.

It had been assumed until now that both men were still alive.

According to Israel National News, Youssef al-Ziyadne's body was found in an underground complex in the Gaza Strip next to the bodies of the terrorists who guarded him.

A statement from the family said, "We were updated that they found the bodies of Youssef and his son Hamza.

“Our hearts hurt. We wanted them to return to their families alive, but unfortunately, they returned dead."

Youssef, 53, was abducted by Hamas during the October 7 2023 massacre, along with three of his children, Hamza, 22, Bilal, 18, and Aisha, 17.

Married with two wives and 19 children, Youssef was working in the cowsheds of Kibbutz Holit in southern Israel.

Hamza, who was married with two children of his own, was alongside his father with his younger siblings Bilal, while Aisha had joined them for the morning.

All three were kidnapped during Hamas’s onslaught.

Bilal and Aisha were released as part of the truce deal on November 30, 2023, after more than 50 days in Hamas captivity.

The Tikva Forum, which works to support the families of the hostages, said in a statement: "The hostages' families from the Tikva Forum share in the sorrow of the family of Youssef and Hamza al-Ziyadne which will bury their loved ones, who were abducted on Simchat Torah after they were freed by IDF forces from the Gaza Strip.

"We thank the heroic IDF soldiers who work day and night to bring back our loved ones and many of them have lost their lives for this objective."

The IDF is yet to comment on the reports.