Israel recovers bodies of six hostages taken alive to Gaza on Oct. 7
The bodies of six hostages were recovered by the Israeli military and Shin Bet troops from a tunnel in Khan Younis.
The Israeli military has recovered from the Gaza Strip the bodies of six hostages, all kidnapped alive on Oct. 7 by the Hamas militant group, kibbutz Nirim and kibbutz Nir Oz announced Tuesday.
Israeli military and Shin Bet troops recovered the bodies of Nadav Popplewell, Yagev Buchshtab, Yoram Metzger, Haim Peri, Alexander Dancyg and Avraham Munder from a tunnel in the Khan Younis area in the south of the Strip after collecting intelligence on their whereabouts, Haaretz reported. The operation did not involve fighting and the security system stated it was likely that some of the six had been killed inside the tunnel where the bodies were found. The kidnappers may have fled the place following Israeli military strikes on the area, leaving the bodies behind, the outlet reported.
The family of Munder believed until Tuesday he was still alive. The families of the other five had been notified by the Israeli military of intelligence indicating that they were no longer alive.
According to the military, Popplewell, Metzger, Peri and Dancyg had been held together and killed in Khan Younis, perhaps by Israeli airstrikes, a few months before being declared dead on July 3. Buchshtab was declared dead last month. Munder's nephew, Shachar Mor, told Haaretz that information received last February had indicated that his uncle was still alive.
The recovery of the six bodies comes amid negotiations on a deal between Israel and Hamas for the release of the hostages and a cease-fire in Gaza. After meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Monday with families of Israeli-American hostages held in Gaza, pledging to do everything he can to see a deal concluded.
