Autopsy shows that a Hamas hostage was tortured to death

The tragedy of Itzik Elgert, one of the Israeli hostages kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, has taken on an even darker tone following the revelation of his autopsy results.

According to his brother, Danny Elgert, who reported in a message posted on X, Itzik did not die of a heart attack, as had been speculated, but was tortured to death during an interrogation in Gaza.

"Today, after my brother's autopsy, the facts are clear: Itzik did not die of a heart attack. He was tortured to death. He was murdered with extreme cruelty," Danny wrote.

The forensic report details that Elgert had multiple broken ribs, a fractured nose, and broken toes, injuries consistent with severe physical abuse.

Although the Forensic Institute could not officially determine the exact cause of death, it concluded that the nature and severity of the fractures were consistent with fatal trauma inflicted on a living person.

In previous statements, the victim's brother had said that Hamas suspected Itzik was a pilot because of an eagle tattoo on his arm, which may have led them to single him out for an interrogation from which he never returned.

"My brother was with hostage Edan Alexander. The terrorists thought he was a pilot and took him away. He never came back. Edan asked about him and they replied: 'He left'".

Itzik Elgert was returned to Israel in February, during the final phase of the first stage of the hostage release agreement. He was buried near his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz, where hundreds of people came to say goodbye.