Israel retrieved the remains of six hostages from a tunnel in southern Gaza, where they were likely executed shortly before Israeli forces arrived, according to the military's Sunday statement.
"Based on our preliminary assessment, they were savagely killed by Hamas terrorists just moments before we got to them," explained Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, a military spokesperson, during a press briefing. The bodies of Carmel Gat, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Eden Yerushalmi, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi, and Ori Danino were discovered beneath the city of Rafah and have been repatriated to Israel, he detailed.
"The heart of an entire nation is shattered," expressed President Isaac Herzog, whose role is primarily symbolic. "I deeply sympathize with their families and apologize for our inability to safely return them home." Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is facing domestic and international pressure to secure a ceasefire that includes the liberation of remaining hostages, did not immediately comment.
US President Joe Biden, closely monitoring the situation since the hostages were taken on October 7, identified Goldberg-Polin as an Israeli American among the six. "I am deeply saddened and angered," Biden declared in a White House statement. A senior Hamas official, Izzat El-Reshiq, accused Israel of being accountable for the deaths due to its refusal to agree to a ceasefire.
Earlier, Israeli forces rescued Qaid Farhan Alkadi, a Bedouin from southern Israel, approximately a kilometer away from the site. Hagari noted that troops were warned to proceed with caution as other hostages might be nearby, though specific locations were unknown. The six recovered bodies are part of the approximately 250 hostages seized during Hamas's deadly rampage across southern Israel on October 7, which ignited the conflict in Gaza. According to Israeli records, around 1,200 people were killed in the initial assault.
Since then, Israel's military operations in Gaza have resulted in at least 40,691 Palestinian deaths and 94,060 injuries, as reported by the territory's health ministry on Saturday. The latest developments are expected to intensify Israeli demands for a deal to release hostages. The Hostage Families Forum urged Netanyahu to assume responsibility and clarify the obstacles to an agreement.
"They were all killed in the past few days, after enduring nearly 11 months of mistreatment, torture, and starvation under Hamas's captivity. The delay in finalizing the deal has cost them and many other hostages their lives," the Forum stated. Goldberg-Polin, who was captured at a music festival near Gaza and featured in a Hamas-released video in late April, had just celebrated his 23rd birthday and had dreams of global travel, according to Biden.
His parents, Rachel Goldberg and Jon Polin, have shown remarkable resilience and determination. "They have been unwavering advocates for their son and all hostages held under intolerable conditions. I deeply respect and mourn with them," Biden expressed. He pledged that "Hamas leaders will be held accountable for these atrocities. We will continue to work tirelessly to secure the release of the remaining hostages."
Vice-President Kamala Harris strongly condemned Hamas's ongoing brutality, emphasizing that the international community must also do so. As the Democratic candidate vying to succeed Biden, Harris reiterated her and Biden's unwavering commitment to freeing Americans and all hostages in Gaza. Earlier, in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, Biden expressed optimism about reaching a ceasefire agreement to end the conflict, stating, "I believe we're close to an agreement. It's high time this war concluded."
