The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Israel’s security agency (ISA) have announced the recovery of the bodies of six Israeli hostages from Khan Younis during an overnight military operation.
The hostages were identified as Yoram Metzger, Alexander Dancyg, Avraham Munder, Chaim Peri, Nadav Popplewell and Yagev Buchshtab.
The joint statement disclosed that the operation was “enabled by precise intelligence from the ISA, IDF intelligence units, and the IDF Intelligence Directorate Hostage Headquarters.”
After an identification procedure was carried out, the families of the deceased were informed.
According to statements from the kibbutz, Munder, 79, Metzger, 80, and Peri, 80, were all residents of Kibbutz Nir Oz, near the Gaza border, where they were captured during Hamas’ October 7 attacks.
Munder was taken along with his wife, daughter and grandson. They were later freed during a temporary truce in November. Munder’s son, Roee, was killed during the attack.
Metzger’s wife, Tami was also kidnapped and later released in the November truce.
Popplewell, who was 51 when abducted, and Buchshtab, 35, were taken from Kibbutz Nirim, the kibbutz said in a statement.
In May, Hamas’ military wing, the Al Qassam Brigades, claimed Popplewell, a dual British-Israeli citizen, had died more than a month earlier of wounds he sustained after an Israeli airstrike hit the place where he was held.
The IDF said in July that Buchshtab was believed to have been held in Khan Younis and died several months ago, while the IDF was operating there.
In a statement, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu thanked those involved in the operation for their “bravery and determined action.”
“Our hearts ache for the terrible loss,” he said.
“The State of Israel will continue to make every effort to return all of our abductees – both alive and dead.”
Benjamin Netanyahu
Meanwhile, National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, stated, “The living abductees and those who are not, should be returned only by heavy military pressure, the cessation of fuel and humanitarian aid to terrorism.”
Netanyahu Government Pressured To Make A Deal
Reacting to the news, the two groups released statements pressuring the Netanyahu government to make a deal to secure the release of the remaining captives.
Nir Oz, an Israeli kibbutz near the Gaza Strip which was attacked by Hamas on October 7, stated that the body of one of its community was retrieved by the Israeli army, and that this is “is the greatest proof of all the importance of a deal that will return our sons and daughters as soon as possible before it is too late.”
A group representing captives’ families also stated, “The Israeli government, with the help of the mediators, must today approve the deal that is currently on the table – and allow rehabilitation for the living abductees, a dignified burial for all the victims and the murdered abductees and restore hope to the State of Israel.”
Additionally, Israel’s former military Chief, Gadi Eisenkot responded to the news of six captives’ bodies being recovered from Gaza, stating that it underscores the urgent need for Israel to secure a deal and bring the remaining captives home.
“This is a reminder to the Prime Minister – in Gaza there are another 109 abductees, their time is running out,” Eisenkot told a news agency.
“They are dying in captivity, and he [the Prime Minister] must act as soon as possible to return them,” he noted.
“Otherwise, there will be no one to return,” he stressed.
