President Bola Tinubu has asked those planning to protest against his administration’s policies to shelve their plan.

Addressing State House reporters after a meeting with the President on Tuesday, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, declared that the President asked him to communicate to Nigerians, especially the youths, that he has listened to all their concerns, adding measures are already ongoing to address the challenges.

The Minister said, “We also discussed the issue of the country generally and Mr President has asked me to again inform Nigerians that he listens to them, especially the young people that are trying to protest.

“Mr President said he listens to them and takes what they say seriously; and he is working assiduously to ensure that this country is good not just for today but also for the future. The issue of the planned protest, Mr President does not see any need for that, he asked them to shelve that plan and he has asked them to await government’s response to all their pleas, he has listened to them.”

The Minister said a lot is happening already, saying “Only today the NASS has expeditiously passed the bill on National minimum wage. You can see how the President is working. The bill was transmitted only yesterday and today it has been passed. A lot of other interventions that the President has put in place are also going to be looked at expeditiously in the interest of Nigerians, so there is no need for strike {protest}.

“The young people out there should listen to the President and allow the President more time to see to the realization of all the goodies he has for them.”

Highlighting other policies aimed at cushioning the effect of hardship Nigerians are facing, the Minister said the government approved grains and rice for state governments, which was delivered to them, adding, “Like I said that time it is just the necessary first step, government is going to continue in that direction supporting them and assuring that whatever intervention the Federal Government has put in place go to those that should benefit, it is very important that is being put out.”

Daily Trust

Israel tanks advance deeper in southern Gaza as more ceasefire talks expected

Palestinian residents of eastern neighbourhoods of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip fled their homes on Tuesday as Israeli tanks advanced deep into the area after Israel ordered the population to evacuate.

The tanks pushed into the Khan Younis town of Bani Suhaila and several districts nearby were bombed for a second day, forcing tens of thousands of civilians to seek refuge elsewhere.

Israel said its action - the latest in a series of major assaults in recent weeks in parts of Gaza where it had long since claimed to have rooted out Hamas - was intended to prevent the militant group's fighters from regrouping.

Gaza health officials said Israeli military strikes since Monday killed at least 80 Palestinians in the Khan Younis area - adding to a death toll of more than 39,000 in nearly 10 months of warfare, according to Gaza authorities' figures.

The Israeli military said Hamas and other groups used those areas to renew attacks, including firing rockets.

Many of the newly displaced families said they had to spend the night in the streets as they searched in vain for a space as western Khan Younis and central Gaza areas were overcrowded. Some of them said they had to flee under Israeli fire.

"For us, the most basic of essentials in our lives are not available," a woman, Ibtihal Al-Breim, told Reuters in Khan Younis. "Basic needs (like) water which we had to carry, the electricity, of course, is cut off, food is cut off, let alone the expensive prices, and there's no work."

"And then suddenly you're told now you have to leave. Without prior warning, suddenly rockets began falling on us. We had to leave and I wasn't intending to leave - but then there were quadcopters and aircraft, we saw the tanks with our own eyes," she added.

U.N. officials described scenes of despair on Tuesday as Israeli airstrikes hit the area.

"The situation is impossible," the U.N.'s Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA said on X.

In a later post, it said there was nowhere safe to go in Gaza.

"People are exhausted from the continuous displacement and unlivable conditions & they are trapped in increasingly small & overcrowded areas," it said.

The Israeli military said dozens of militants had been killed in Khan Younis by its tanks and warplanes or in close-quarter combat. Weapon caches and tunnels used by the militants had been destroyed, it said.

Palestinian medics said one person was killed in an Israeli airstrike in the area on Tuesday. The Gaza health ministry does not distinguish between combatants and non-combatants. Health officials have said most of those killed have been civilians.

Residents in Khan Younis said tanks remained stationed deep inside Bani Suhaila, east of downtown Khan Younis. Soldiers were seen searching inside the town's main cemetery, while others commandeered roofs of high-rise buildings, firing their guns toward the western areas from time to time, residents said.

In the Bureij camp in the central Gaza Strip, where six Palestinians were killed by an Israeli airstrike on a house, some residents said they had received calls from Israeli security officers ordering them to leave their homes. Some families headed towards the Nuseirat camp to the west.

Later on Tuesday, residents said Israeli forces had blown up several homes in Rafah, where Israel said its operation since May aimed to dismantle the last Hamas battalions.

CEASEFIRE HOPES

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is in Washington this week, told families of hostages held in Gaza that a deal that would secure their release could be near.

Hamas-led fighters triggered the war on Oct. 7 by storming into southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 250 captives, according to Israeli tallies. Hamas and other militants are still holding 120 hostages; Israel believes around a third of them are dead.

Netanyahu was in Washington and is expected to meet U.S. President Joe Biden later this week after making an address to Congress. Speaking in the U.S. capital on Monday to families of hostages, he said: "The conditions (for a deal) are undoubtedly ripening. This is a good sign."

Months of efforts mediated by Egypt and Qatar to reach a ceasefire gained momentum in recent weeks under a proposal outlined by Biden in May.

"Unfortunately, it will not take place all at once; there will be stages. However, I believe that we can advance the deal," Netanyahu said.

Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters there was nothing new in Netanyahu's stance.

"Netanyahu is still stalling and he is sending delegations only to calm the anger of Israeli captives' families," he said.

An Israeli negotiation team is due on Thursday to resume talks that would include hostages being released in return for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. According to two Egyptian security sources, Israel informed Egypt that an Israeli delegation would arrive in Cairo on Wednesday evening.

Reuters

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Poll says 32% of Ukrainians open to territorial concessions for quick peace

Nearly a third of Ukrainians would accept some territorial concessions to Russia for a quick end to the war, a more than three-fold increase over the past year, although most still oppose giving up any land, a poll showed on Tuesday.

The Kyiv International Institute of Sociology said its poll of 1,067 people on Ukrainian-held territory from May 16-22 found that 32% would agree to some form of territorial concessions, up from just 10% a year earlier and 19% at the end of last year.

It said 55% of Ukrainians remain opposed to making any territorial concessions.

Nearly 29 months since its full-scale invasion, Russia occupies around 18% of Ukrainian territory, including the Crimean peninsula it seized in 2014. Kyiv's troops have been on the back foot this year facing a Russian offensive after their counteroffensive failed to make significant gains last year.

The survey did not ask those polled what territorial concessions they would be open to or how large they should be. KIIS said those polled did not necessarily see concessions as equating to recognising the territory as Russian.

"For example, some people are ready to postpone the liberation of certain territories until the future at a better time," KIIS said in a statement with its findings.

Russia in 2022 unilaterally declared it had annexed the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, which it partially controls.

In remarks published alongside the survey, KIIS's executive director, Anton Hrushetskyi, said Ukrainians remained against the idea of reaching a peace settlement with Russia at any cost.

"It's ... important that in the context of possible 'concessions', Ukrainians are against 'peace on any terms'," he said.

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Iskander strike targets foreign instructors in Ukraine

A missile strike has destroyed a temporary deployment point housing Western instructors and mercenaries, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.

The Russian Defense Ministry has shared a video apparently showing a missile strike on a temporary deployment center near the city of Kharkov in Ukraine that supposedly housed Western “instructors and mercenaries.”

Some 50 foreigners are said to have been killed in the ballistic missile strike, which was conducted using an Iskander-M system, the ministry said, noting that the facility was located in Dergachi, a town in Kharkov region.

The strike comes as Moscow has repeatedly warned that any foreign military personnel operating in Ukraine are considered legitimate targets for Russian strikes and would be relentlessly eliminated.

Last month, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated the threat as France hinted at officially sending its soldiers to Ukraine. “The fact is that any instructors who are involved in training the military of the Ukrainian regime do not have any immunity,” Peskov told reporters at the time, noting that “it doesn’t matter whether they are French or not.”

Earlier this month, Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) declassified a report in which an agent claimed the French army was “concerned about the increased number of Frenchmen killed in the Ukrainian theater of military operation.”

Moscow’s forces had reported destroying another temporary deployment center for foreign fighters in Kharkov in January, killing what Paris reportedly estimated to be “dozens” of French citizens.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has also recently stated that Western military trainers have “long been present” in Ukraine “under the guise of mercenaries” and has emphasized that they represent a legitimate target for Russia’s armed forces.

Reuters/RT

Nigeria and South Africa account for one-third of Africa’s economic production and have also spearheaded many of the continent’s peacemaking efforts over the past three decades, including the establishment of the African Union (AU). As I noted in my 2023 book The Eagle and the Springbok, Africa’s security and development rest heavily on the leadership of these two regional powers.

Nowadays, however, both countries are too preoccupied with domestic economic challenges and political turmoil to represent Africa’s interests effectively on the world stage. In Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu’s first year in office has been marked by a currency crisis and reports of the president’s ill health. In South Africa, the ruling African National Congress recently lost its majority for the first time since 1994, forcing President Cyril Ramaphosato form a unity government with the ANC’s main political rival.

As Africa’s most influential powers, Nigeria and South Africa have a relationship that is both cooperative and competitive. This partly reflects their distinct cultural identities. Nigeria, home to the world’s largest black population, is the continent’s most linguistically diverse country; South Africa is its most Westernized.

Although both countries remain beset by corruption and crime, their growth trajectories have diverged considerably in recent years. South Africa is set to become the continent’s largest economy this year, while Nigeria – which held the title as recently as 2022 – is projected to fall to fourth place, behind Egypt and Algeria.

Instead of reversing Nigeria’s economic decline, Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” has accelerated it. Having inherited a struggling economy with a national debt of $113 billionand 33% unemployment, Tinubu’s decision to remove fuel subsidies that kept gasoline prices low has triggered a massive cost-of-living crisis. Moreover, his administration’s attempt to float the naira by devaluing it has led the Nigerian currency to depreciate by roughly 70%against the US dollar over the past year.

These disastrous “shock therapy” policies, a misguided attempt to embrace economic orthodoxy, were initiated without much consultation or planning. After gasoline prices nearly tripled, inflation skyrocketed to 33%, and labor unions took to the streets, the government quietly reintroduced fuel subsidies.

Fearing widespread labor unrest, Tinubu’s administration also announced cash transfersof $54 over three months to the country’s poorest households. But with 40% of the population living in extreme poverty, and bread prices nearly doubling since 2023, these payments fell far short of what was needed.

To be sure, Nigeria lacks the funds to do much else. The government currently spends more than 90% of its revenue on servicing the national debt – six times what it spends on health and education – and the reintroduced fuel subsidies are projected to consume half of its annual oil revenues. Compounding these challenges, the country loses 400,000 barrels of oil per day to theft and vandalism.

At the same time, while the naira has depreciated by 40% against the dollar in the first half of 2024 – making it the world’s worst-performing currency – devaluation has failed to achieve the government’s stated goal of attracting foreign investment. Instead, multinationals like GlaxoSmithKline and Procter & Gamble have exited the country.

Tinubu’s struggles extend to his foreign policy. As chair of the Economic Community of West African States in 2023, Tinubu threatened to intervene in Niger following the country’s military coup, vastly overestimating Nigeria’s military capabilities. This resulted in an embarrassing retreat after Niger’s junta defied his ultimatum and, together with Mali and Burkina Faso, withdrew from ECOWAS.

Shortly after assuming office, Tinubu unveiled his “4D” foreign-policy doctrine: democracy, development, demography, and diaspora. But this framework seems to be more about alliteration than action. In September 2023, as part of his foreign-policy overhaul, Tinubu recalled all of Nigeria’s ambassadors. Ten months later, many of these posts remain vacant.

Despite Nigeria’s declining economic weight and political influence, many Nigerians continue to cling to the outdated notion of the country as the “giant of Africa.” Meanwhile, the kleptocratic political elite shows blatant disregard for the plight of ordinary citizens, imposing austerity measures while continuingto spend lavishly.

By contrast, South Africa seems to have adopted a more measured approach. Following the election’s stunning outcome, the ANC has formed a coalition government with the business-friendly Democratic Alliance (DA), which won just 4% of the black vote. Confronting an external public-debt burden of $158 billion and the world’s highest income inequality, Ramaphosa’s administration is rightly focusing on addressing the country’s electricity crisis, infrastructure challenges, and corruption.

But tensions are already emerging. While many within the ANC want to boost social-welfare spending, the DA has consistently opposed the ANC’s welfare policies. Indeed, many ANC leaders would have preferred a coalition with two left-leaning ruling party offshoots: former President Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) and Julius Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).

As political commentators have repeatedly warned, the “markets” – meaning South Africa’s white-dominated corporations and foreign investors – would punish any coalition that included the MK and EFF, owing to both parties’ support for nationalizing financial institutions and land expropriation. Moreover, the fact that the ANC has been in power for three decades without shifting to the left suggests that such a move was unlikely.

Having garnered 15% of the national vote, the 82-year-old Zuma remains a powerful political player. Notably, MK won Zuma’s home province of KwaZulu-Natal with 45% of the vote, while support there for the ANC dwindled to 17%.

In an unexpected twist, the ANC, DA, and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) managed to form a coalition, effectively excluding MK from the provincial government. Considering that MK won nearly as many seats as the next three largest parties combined, its exclusion could fuel instability in the traditionally volatile province, which is home to Sub-Saharan Africa’s largest port.

With Islamist terrorism on the rise and the United States, Russia, France, and China expanding their respective military footprints in Africa, the continent urgently needs strong leadership. But Nigeria and South Africa are unlikely to provide it. Constrained by domestic crises, Africa’s major powers have become hobbled hegemons.

Project Syndicate

I’ve had my fair share of imposter syndrome. As a first-generation college graduate, who also went to a historically Black college or university, jumping into the corporate world was a bit of a culture shock. I wasn’t sure at first if I belonged or how to fit in. 

Most people, at some point in their lives, feel the same way on their career journey, but according to Cava CEO Brett Schulman, that lack of confidence isn’t a fatal flaw.

Rather, self-doubt can be exactly what you need to become highly successful, he recently told Wondery’s “How I Built This with Guy Raz” podcast.

“I think we all have a little bit of imposter syndrome — which isn’t the worst thing in the world, because it doesn’t allow you to get overconfident and think that you’re invincible,” Schulman said.

Anxiety can keep some people from making a case for a promotion or volunteering to take on a big project at work. Others can find it motivating: If I’m not good enough yet, I just need to learn more, or focus on self-improvement.

“The more successful someone is, the more self-doubt they have, because that’s what drives them,” real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran said at Fiverr’s "Bridge the Gap" webinar last year. “I’ve never met a secure person who was a stellar star.”

If you find yourself succumbing to imposter syndrome, tap into your network of friends, colleagues and mentors who can speak to your abilities and give you the tools you need to succeed, Schulman recommended.

Since I graduated in 2021, I’ve done just that, leaning on my network for guidance and support. Looking back, I see that self-doubt pushed me to apply myself beyond what I thought I was capable of, and now I feel more confident every day. 

CNBC

• In Q1 2024, debt servicing consumed about 74% of Nigeria’s federal revenue, amounting to N1.31 trillion out of the N1.76 trillion retained revenue.  
• This financial strain highlights the government’s ongoing challenges in managing debt, despite a reduction in fiscal deficit and overall expenditures. 
• Alarmingly, the high debt service costs overshadow spending on essential sectors like personnel and capital expenditures, signalling a need for urgent economic reforms to sustain growth and development. 

 Debt service costs have consumed about 74% of the federal government’s retained revenue in the first quarter of 2024. 

This is according to the latest quarterly statistical bulletin from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).  

In Q1 2024, the federal government had a retained revenue of N1.76 trillion.

However, in the same period, debt servicing gulped N1.31 trillion, which is about 74% of the government revenue. 

This figure highlights the continuing financial strain on the government’s resources as it grapples with significant debt obligations

Only 29% of FG’s expenditures was for debt servicing 

Although debt servicing gulped 74% of the federal government’s revenue, it was only about 29% of the total expenditures for the period under review. 

While retained revenue was N1.76 trillion, an increase of 33.8% compared to the N1.32 trillion retained in the same period of 2023, there was a decrease in government expenditures by 12.9% from N5.28 trillion in Q1 2023 to N4.59 trillion by 2024. 

Just as there was a decrease in expenditures, there was also a decrease in fiscal deficit by 29% from N3.96 trillion in the Q1 of last year to N2.83 trillion in the same period this year. 

There was also a decrease in debt servicing spending by 33.5% from N1.97 trillion in Q1 2023, as debt servicing to revenue ratio was 149% in the first quarter of last year. 

Although there was a reduction in the ratio this year, the high percentage still shows the critical challenge of managing the country’s debt in a sustainable manner, as substantial portions of the revenue are directed towards servicing existing debts rather than development projects. 

Debt service costs overwhelm spending on personnel, capital expenditure 

The federal government spent more on debt servicing than it spent on personnel costs or capital expenditures. 

Personnel costs for Q1 2024 amounted to N1.15 trillion, an increase of 17.1% from the N978.11 billion spent in the same period last year. 

However, capital expenditure fell by 35.9% to N1.15 trillion in Q1 2024, from the N1.8 trillion recorded in the same quarter of 2023. 

This reduction in capital expenditure is concerning, as it suggests a cutback in investments in infrastructure and other long-term development projects. 

Capital expenditure is crucial for economic growth and development, and sustained reductions in this area could impede progress and affect the overall economic health of the nation. 

Nairametrics

Aliko Dangote, chairman of Dangote Industries Limited, has alleged some personnel of Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, oil traders and terminals have opened a blending plant in Malta.

Dangote spoke at the house of representatives on Monday.

An oil blending plant has no refining capability but can be used to blend re-refined oil (a used motor oil that has been treated to remove dirt, fuel, and water) with additives to create finished lubricant products.

The billionaire said the areas of the blending plants are known.

“Some of the terminals, some of the NNPC people and some traders have opened a blending plant somewhere off Malta,” the chairman said.

“We all know these areas. We know what they are doing.”

Addressing the drop in diesel prices, the billionaire said the diesel produced locally at 650 parts per million (ppm) and 700 ppm is of better quality than imported fuel.

Dangote said many vehicle issues can be traced back to the “substandard” imported fuel.

He urged the leadership of the house of representatives to set up an independent committee to verify the quality of petrol available at filling stations.

“I want you to set up a committee that will come with every representative headed by your chosen honourable member to come and lead in taking samples from filling stations because I must tell you today that all the test certificates that people are busy floating around, where are the labs? Even if they have the labs, I can tell you they are fake certificates,” he said.

“The real one that you now know that they are right is to take from the filling station and also come and take from our production line. Now, you will be able to tell Nigerians that this is it.”

On Monday, the house of representatives joint committee on petroleum resources (downstream and midstream) launched a probe into claims that local refineries, including the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, produce inferior products.

The committee is also investigating the allegations that the international oil companies (IOCs) in Nigeria are frustrating the survivalof the Dangote refinery.

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and Dangote refinery have been embroiled in a dispute that began recently.

On July 18, Farouk Ahmed, the chief executive officer of NMDPRA had said local refineries, including the Dangote refinery, were producing inferior products compared to the ones imported into the country.

The oil regulator also accused Dangote of monopoly, claims which have been denied by the billionaire.

On Monday, Heineken Lokpobiri, minister of state petroleum resources (oil), intervened in the ‘ongoing issues’ after having a meeting with Aliko Dangote, chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of Dangote Group and Farouk Ahmed, CEO of Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

Gbenga Komolafe, CEO of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and Mele Kyari, group CEO of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited were also at the meeting.

The Cable

The public spat between Aliko Dangote, Africa's richest man and owner of the Dangote Refinery, and various agencies of the Nigerian Federal Government has brought to the fore critical issues in Nigeria's industrial policy and business environment. This dispute, centered around crude oil supply, product quality, and allegations of monopolistic practices, reveals deeper challenges in Nigeria's quest for economic diversification and energy security.

Firstly, the failure of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) to fulfill its commitment of supplying 300,000 barrels of crude oil per day to the Dangote Refinery is a significant concern. This shortfall not only hampers the refinery's operations but also raises questions about Nigeria's ability to manage its oil resources effectively. The alleged premium pricing by International Oil Companies further complicates the situation, potentially undermining the refinery's economic viability.

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority's (NMDPRA) controversial statements about the quality of Dangote Refinery's diesel are equally troubling. Such public declarations, especially if inaccurate, can severely damage the reputation of a new and strategically important enterprise. Regulatory bodies must exercise caution and ensure the veracity of their claims before making public statements that could impact investor and public confidence.

However, the government's stance against granting monopoly status to the Dangote Refinery is commendable. Given Dangote's history of market dominance in other sectors, maintaining a competitive environment is crucial for consumer protection and economic growth. The decision to continue allowing importation of petroleum products aligns with principles of free market economics and ensures supply diversity.

Aliko Dangote's reaction to these challenges, while understandable from a business perspective, is concerning. His threat to halt investments in Nigeria and the offer to sell the refinery to NNPC seem reactionary and could be interpreted as attempting to arm-twist the government. It's important to remember that Dangote's success has been significantly facilitated by Nigeria's large market and, most times, preferential government treatment.

The businessman's comments about doing the country a favour by investing are particularly ill-advised. No private entity, regardless of its size or influence, should position itself as indispensable to a nation's economy. Such rhetoric undermines the symbiotic relationship between businesses and the countries in which they operate.

This dispute highlights the delicate balance Nigeria must strike between encouraging large-scale private investments and maintaining a fair, competitive business environment. It also underscores the need for clear, consistent policies and transparent communication between the government and the private sector.

Moving forward, all parties involved should prioritize dialogue and collaboration. The government must address the crude supply issues and ensure regulatory fairness. Dangote, for his part, should recognize his responsibility as a major economic player and work constructively with authorities to resolve disputes.

Ultimately, this situation serves as a crucial test for Nigeria's industrial policy and business climate. How it is resolved will send a strong signal to both domestic and international investors about Nigeria's commitment to fostering a robust, fair, and growth-oriented economic environment.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Celebrated journalist and author Azu Ishiekwene is set to host a reading of his latest book, Writing for Media and Monetising It, on Wednesday, July 24. The event will take place at Rovingheights Bookstore in Area 11, Garki, Abuja, starting at 5 pm.

Moderated by Maupe Ogun-Yusuf, a top anchor at Channels TV, the reading promises to be an engaging session. Ishiekwene's book, which explores how content creators and journalists can better monetize their work, has garnered extensive praise since its public launch on June 26. It is currently available for purchase in several locations in Abuja and Lagos.

The event will offer Ishiekwene an opportunity to deepen his connection with readers, autograph copies, and discuss the book's core theme: securing better rewards for journalists' efforts. Prominent media personalities, including Dapo Olorunyomi, Publisher of Premium Times, have already expressed interest in attending.

Journalists from various Abuja-based media outlets, such as NATION, ThisDay, Vanguard, TRUST, PUNCH, Guardian, and LEADERSHIP, as well as those from the broadcast media, are also expected to be present.

For more information on Azu Ishiekwene and his works, visit www.azuishiekwene.com.

Israel declares two more Gaza hostages dead

Israel declared dead on Monday two more of its hostages being held in Gaza, as talks to secure a ceasefire deal that would include the release of some 120 captives there were set to resume later this week.

The Israeli military said it was still investigating the deaths in captivity of the two hostages, Yagev Buchshtab, a 35-year-old sound technician and Alex Dancyg, 76, a historian, who were abducted from their homes in kibbutzim near the border with Gaza during Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel.

An Israeli negotiation team was due on Thursday to set off to mediated Gaza ceasefire talks that would include the issue of hostages being released in return for Palestinian prisoners.

"Yagev and Alex were taken alive and should have returned alive to their families and to their country," the Hostage Families Forum said in a statement. "Their death in captivity is a tragic reflection of the consequences of foot-dragging in negotiations."

Dancyg also had Polish citizenship, and Poland's foreign ministry said it was saddened by his death.

"Poland will continue to demand the unconditional release of all the abductees from Gaza," the ministry said.

Israeli authorities have so far pronounced dead in absentia around a third of the hostages still held in Gaza.

Reuters