Mahmoud Biyari, an Israeli citizen, resident of Jaffa, and father of five entered the Gaza Strip before October 7 to visit his family, but remains there to this day, N12 reported on Sunday.
N12 learned that due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, Biyari attempted to return to Israel but was unable to.
Biyari's son, Said, told N12 that his father had close family in Gaza, and entered with state approval prior to October 7. He also mentioned that the building in which his father stayed in Khan Yunis was bombed on December 19, but reports remain conflicted and uncertainty rises as to whether he was in the building at the time.
"He wanted to return home to Israel, but because of the war, it was not possible."
However, Israeli authorities have yet to classify him as a hostage or missing, N12 noted.
"To this day, we have not been able to contact him. We don't know if he was in the building or outside it. Security forces are dealing with the matter, but unfortunately, there is no new information to date. They say they are committed to bringing him back, but so far, there is no news on the subject. My father is not on the list of kidnapped and missing persons, even though he is Israeli and in Gaza," Said said in a quote to N12.
"We ask the state to consider my father among the number of kidnapped and missing persons in Gaza. He is there."
N12 confirmed that the IDF is aware of the issue and is being addressed. Additionally, the Israel Police confirmed to N12 that the story is known, and a complaint was filed by Biyari's family.