Israel’s military has retrieved the bodies of six hostages from the Khan Younis area in southern Gaza during an overnight operation, as confirmed by the military and the prime minister’s office on Tuesday.
The hostages, identified as Yagev Buchshtab, Alexander Dancyg, Avraham Munder, Yoram Metzger, Nadav Popplewell, and Chaim Perry, were taken by Hamas militants during the early stages of the current conflict. Their families have been notified of the recovery.
The Hostages Families Forum, an organization representing the majority of hostage families, expressed relief at the news but stressed the urgent need for the Israeli government to finalize a hostage release agreement with Hamas. They emphasized that the immediate return of the remaining 109 hostages hinges on a negotiated deal.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is currently in the Middle East, working to secure a ceasefire and facilitate a hostage release agreement between Israel and Hamas.
The conflict, which began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas gunmen launched a deadly assault on Israeli communities, has resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 Israelis and the abduction of approximately 250 people. In response, Israel’s military has carried out extensive operations in Gaza, causing significant casualties and widespread displacement among the 2.3 million residents of the enclave.
