Israel announced the death of a 79-year-old hostage in Gaza

An Israeli community has announced the death of hostage Avraham Munder in the Gaza Strip. It claims he was "physically and mentally tortured" while in captivity, AFP reported.

"Kibbutz Nir Oz announces with great sadness the killing of the late Avraham Munder, 79, while in captivity in Gaza after suffering physical and mental torture for months," the community said.

Palestinian militants abducted Munder, his wife, daughter and grandson during the October 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel.

The other family members were released during the week-long truce last November, while his son was killed on the day of the attack.

The attack, led by Hamas fighters, resulted in the deaths of 1,199 people, mostly civilians. The militants also abducted 251 people, 111 of whom are still being held in Gaza. Of them, 40 have already died.

Israel's retaliatory military campaign in Gaza has killed at least 40,139 people, according to Hamas-controlled institutions. | BGNES