The Israeli military said Tuesday that it had recovered the bodies of six hostages who were taken into the Gaza Strip following the Hamas-led Oct. 7 terror attacks. The Israel Defense Forces said in a statement that troops recovered the bodies of six Israeli hostages in an overnight operation in the city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza. The operation came as the United States, Egypt and Qatar pushed for a cease-fire deal that would end Israel’s monthslong military offensive in Gaza and see the release of the hostages who remain held in the enclave.
In a joint statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israeli Security Agency (ISA) identified the hostages as: Haim Perry, 80; Yoram Metzger, 80; Avraham Munder, 79; Alexander Dancyg, 76; Nadav Popplewell, 51; and Yagev Buchshtav, 35. Metzger, Munder, Popplewell and Buchshtav had family members who were also abducted but freed during a November cease-fire.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday that he’d had a productive meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and he had accepted a bridging proposal for a cease-fire deal and that it was “now incumbent on Hamas to do the same.” Hamas on Tuesday expressed “astonishment” at the suggestion that it was holding up a deal, calling the comments by Blinken and President Joe Biden “misleading claims that do not reflect the true position of the movement, which is keen to reach a cessation of aggression. We consider these statements a renewed American green light for the government of Zionist extremists to commit more crimes against defenseless civilians, and in pursuit of the goals of exterminating and displacing our people.”
Netanyahu said in a statement on Tuesday: “tonight our forces returned the bodies of six of our hostages who were held by the murderous terrorist organization Hamas… we thank those involved in the operation for their bravery and determined action .. our hearts ache for the terrible loss.”
According to Israeli officials, more than 100 hostages remain held in Gaza, with around a third of them believed to be dead. Netanyahu said in a statement shared on X: “The State of Israel will continue to make every effort to return all of our hostages — the living and the deceased.”
According to data from the Israeli Government Press Office, there are currently 109 Israeli hostages being held in Gaza, including 36 believed to be dead. More than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 92,000 injured during Israel’s war in Gaza, according to the health ministry in the enclave.
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