Israeli Military Says Bodies of 6 Hostages Recovered From Southern Gaza

Supporters and relatives of Israelis held hostage by Hamas terrorists in Gaza since the Oct. 7 attacks protest in Tel Aviv, Israel, on July 6, 2024. Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images

Israel recovered the bodies of six hostages, who were abducted during the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas terrorists, from a tunnel in the Khan Younis area of southern Gaza, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Tuesday.

They were identified as Yagev Buchshtab, Alexander Dancyg, Avraham Munder, Yoram Metzger, Haim Perry, and Nadav Popplewell.

The IDF did not say when or how the hostages died.

Munder, who was 78, was kidnapped from a kibbutz with his wife, daughter, and grandson during the Oct. 7 attacks. The two women and his grandson were released during the Nov. 2023 ceasefire.

The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that, in response to the recovery of the bodies, Israel’s national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said: “The living hostages and those who are not should only be returned through intense military pressure.”

The Hostages Families Forum, which represents most of the hostage families, renewed its call on the Israeli government to make a deal with Hamas over the remaining hostages.

In a statement, the forum said, “The immediate return of the remaining 109 hostages can only be achieved through a negotiated deal. The Israeli government, with the assistance of mediators, must do everything in its power to finalise the deal currently on the table.”

On Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists crossed the border into Israel, killing approximately 1,200 Israelis and taking 251 people hostage, 109 of whom are still being held captive in the Gaza Strip.

About 100 hostages were freed by Hamas during a brief ceasefire in late November last year and several others have been rescued by the IDF.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in the Middle East this week, seeking to secure a ceasefire and hostage return agreement between Israel and Hamas.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists it is necessary to wipe out Hamas entirely as a military force.

Nadav Popplewell (L), Yoram Metzger (2nd L), Chaim Peri (2nd R), whose bodies were recovered on Aug. 20, 2024, and Amiram Cooper (R), whose death was confirmed in Gaza in Nov. 2023. Hostages Families Forum Headquarters via AP

Last month he spoke of the hostages during a joint session of Congress in Washington, saying, “The pain these families have endured is beyond words. I will not rest until all their loved ones are home.”

‘Anything Could Happen To Them’

Gil Dickmann, whose cousin Carmel Gat is being held in Gaza, said weeks had gone by since Netanyahu made that speech.

He said, “That is an eternity for the hostages. Anything could happen to them during that eternity.”

In response to the Oct. 7 attacks, Israel has mounted repeated air attacks and a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip, which has displaced most of the 2.3 million Palestinians living there.

The Hamas-controlled health ministry in Gaza says at least 40,000 people have been killed during the conflict.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) addresses a joint meeting of Congress as Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (L) and U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (R) listen in the chamber of the House of Representatives at the U.S. Capitol, on July 24, 2024. Kent Nishimura/Getty Images

There have been pro-Palestinian marches in many cities around the world. In Chicago—where the Democratic Party is holding its convention—thousands of demonstrators protested against Israel on Monday.

A weekly protest in central Tel Aviv by supporters of the hostages has gradually reduced in size.

Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.