Israeli Military Recovers Bodies Of Six Hostages Killed By Hamas From Tunnel In Gaza Strip

Netanyahu added that the Israeli government is committed to pursuing a deal that will ensure the return of the rest of the hostages and safeguard the nation’s security and existence.

The victims were taken from the Nova Music Festival near the Gaza border.

Source : X/@drrpalestine

The Israeli military said on Sunday, that it had recovered six bodies of hostages killed by Hamas militants, from a tunnel in the southern Gaza Strip. Their bodies were recovered on Saturday from an underground tunnel in the Rafah area and were returned to Israel, according to an AFP report. 

The deceased were identified as Carmel Gat (40), Eden Yerushalmi (24), Hersh Goldberg-Polin (23), Alexander Lobanov (32), Almog Sarusi (27) and Ori Danino (25).

Carmel Gat was taken from the southern Israeli kibbutz community of Be’eri, while the other five were taken from the Nova Music Festival near the Gaza border. They were among 251 people taken hostage during the October 7 attack, 97 of whom remain captive in Gaza including 33 the Israeli army says are dead, as per AFP.

Statements From Leaders

According to a CNN report, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari in a briefing said that the hostages were “brutally murdered by Hamas terrorists, a short while before we reached them”. 

According to a CNN report, Netanyahu in a recorded message said that he was shocked to his core after finding out about the new deaths. He called it “cold-blooded murder” and stressed that the murderers did not want a deal.

Months long talks for a ceasefire and to secure the release of hostages have so far failed to have a positive outcome, with both Israel and Hamas blaming each other for the delays.

Netanyahu said despite Israel’s continued persuasion, they did not want to conduct genuine negotiations. “Three months ago, on May 27, Israel agreed to a hostage release deal with the full backing of the United States. Hamas refused. Even after the United States updated the outline of the deal on August 16 – we agreed, and Hamas again refused”, he was quoted by CNN. 

He added that the government and he, personally, are committed to pursuing a deal that will ensure the return of the rest of the hostages and safeguard the nations’s security and existence.

President Isaac Herzog said in a statement. "The heart of an entire nation is shattered to pieces, The blood of our brothers cries out to us. Our sisters and brothers are still there enduring hell... We have the sacred and urgent mission to bring them home."

United States President Joe Biden in a statement said that he was “outraged and devastated”. He also paid tribute to Israeli-American Goldberg-Polin’s parents, “They have been courageous, wise, and steadfast, even as they have endured the unimaginable,” Biden said, according to CNN. 

Campaign group the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said that the only way to bring back the hostages was to negotiate a deal. In its statement, it said that a deal for the return of the hostage has been on the table for months.

"Were it not for the delays, sabotage, and excuses those whose deaths we learned about this morning would likely still be alive," the statement said.