Israeli army finds bodies of 6 hostages in Gaza

The six hostages were captured during the Hamas attack on October 7, which started the conflict in Gaza, according to the IDF statement. The hostages are Alex Dancyg (75), Yagev Buchshtav (35), Chaim Peri (79), Yoram Metzger (80), Nadav Popplewell (51) and Avraham Munder (78).

Dancyg and Buchshtav were confirmed dead by the IDF in late July, while Peri, Metzger, and Popplewell were declared dead by the military in early June. The five are believed to have died in Khan Younis in early 2024, although the cause of death remains unknown.

Munder, Dancyg, Peri and Metzger were all kidnapped by Hamas from Kibbutz Nir Oz on 7 October, while Buchshtav and Popplewell were taken hostage at Kibbutz Nirim.

Top (from left): Nadav Popplewell, Yoram Metzger, Avraham Munder. Bottom (from left): Chaim Peri, Yagev Buchshtav, Alex Dancyg. Photo: Courtesy

After finding the bodies, the IDF said it would continue to investigate the cause of death, including the possibility that the hostages were killed by Israeli fire.

The IDF said the bodies were recovered thanks to precise intelligence that allowed troops and Shin Bet security service members to access a tunnel in Khan Younis, amid a new offensive underway in the city in the southern Gaza Strip.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the efforts to recover the bodies and expressed his sorrow at the loss. "The State of Israel will continue to make every effort to free all hostages, both alive and dead," he said in a statement.

Hamas is still believed to be holding about 110 hostages taken in the October 7 attack. Israeli authorities estimate about a third of them have been killed.

Ngoc Anh (according to AP, Times of Israel)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/quan-doi-israel-tim-thay-thi-the-6-con-tin-o-gaza-post308494.html