IDF recovers six hostages’ bodies from southern Gaza
Israel at War
Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Eden Yerushalmi Almog Sarusi, Alexander Lobanov, Carmel Gat and Ori Danino were murdered shortly before IDF forces reached them, according to the military.
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Clockwise from top left: Almog Sarusi, 25, Eden Yerushalmi, 24, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, Ori Danino, 25, Carmel Gat, 40, and Alex Lubnov, 32. Credit: Hostage and Missing Families Forum.
Israeli forces recovered the bodies of six hostages from an underground tunnel in Rafah in southern Gaza overnight Saturday.
The hostages were identified as Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, Eden Yerushalmi, 24, Almog Sarusi, 25, Alexander Lobanov, 32, Carmel Gat, 40, and Master Sgt. Ori Danino, 25.
“A few hours ago, we informed the families that the bodies of their loved ones had been located by Israel Defense Forces troops in a tunnel in Rafah. According to our initial assessment, they were brutally murdered by Hamas terrorists shortly before we reached them,” said IDF Spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari.
All six were kidnapped alive during the Hamas-led assault on the northwestern Negev on Oct. 7.
“Together with the entire nation, my wife and I share in the heavy grief of the families. We all mourn with them,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday. “I wish to express my deep appreciation to our forces, the brave IDF soldiers and Shin Bet fighters, who risked their lives to return of our sons and daughters.
“I say to the Hamas terrorists who murdered our abductees, and I say to their leaders: The blood is on your hands,” continued the premier. “We will not rest or be silent. We will pursue you, reach you and hold you to account.”
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said that “the heart of an entire nation is shattered to pieces with the news…. On behalf of the State of Israel, I embrace their families with all my heart, and apologize for failing to bring them home safely.
“The blood of our brothers cries out to us. Our sisters and brothers are still there enduring hell. The supreme covenant between the state and its citizens is to ensure their safety. We have the sacred and urgent mission to bring them home,” added Herzog.
U.S. President Joe Biden stated that he was “devastated and outraged” after U.S. citizen Goldberg-Polin was identified among the bodies recovered.
Biden vowed that “Hamas leaders will pay for these crimes,” adding that the United States “will keep working around the clock” to secure a ceasefire deal to release the rest of the hostages.
Last month, the IDF and ISA recovered the bodies of six other hostages kidnapped on Oct. 7, from a tunnel in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.
The bodies of Avraham Munder, Yoram Metzger, Nadav Popplewell, Yagev Buchshtav, Chaim Peri and Alex Dancyg were located more than 10 months after the Hamas massacre.
On Tuesday, Israeli forces rescued a hostage alive from Hamas captivity in Gaza. Qaid Farhan Alkadi, 52, a father of 11 from the Bedouin city of Rahat in the Negev, was rescued from a tunnel in southern Gaza.
A day later, the IDF recovered the body of a soldier who was killed fighting Hamas terrorists during the Oct. 7 invasion.
At the request of the soldier’s family, his name has not yet been made public.
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