By Ari Rabinovitch and Stephanie Kelly
JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israel recovered the our bodies of six hostages from a tunnel in southern Gaza the place they have been apparently killed not lengthy earlier than Israeli troops reached them, the army stated on Sunday.
“According to our initial estimation, they were brutally murdered by Hamas terrorists a short time before we reached them,” army spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari advised reporters in a briefing.
The our bodies of Carmel Gat, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Eden Yerushalmi, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi and Ori Danino had been discovered underground within the metropolis of Rafah and returned to Israel, he stated.
“The heart of an entire nation is shattered to pieces,” stated President Isaac Herzog, whose submit is basically ceremonial. “I embrace their families with all my heart, and apologize for failing to bring them home safely.”
There was no quick remark from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who’s underneath stress at dwelling and overseas to achieve a ceasefire deal that features the discharge of remaining hostages.
U.S. President Joe Biden, who has carefully adopted the destiny of the hostages seized on Oct. 7, stated the six included Israeli American Goldberg-Polin.
“I am devastated and outraged,” Biden stated in a press release issued by the White Home.
Senior Hamas official Izzat El-Reshiq stated that Israel, in its refusal to signal a ceasefire deal, was chargeable for the deaths.
Days earlier, hostage Qaid Farhan Alkadi, a member of the Bedouin group in southern Israel, was rescued a couple of kilometre away, Israel’s Hagari stated.
After Alkadi was positioned, troops have been advised to be cautious as a result of different hostages is likely to be within the space, however there had been no exact data on their location, he stated.
The six recovered our bodies have been from about 250 hostages taken in Hamas’ killing spree by way of southern Israel on Oct. 7 that sparked the warfare in Gaza. About 1,200 folks have been killed within the assault, based on Israeli tallies.
Since then, no less than 40,691 Palestinians have been killed and 94,060 injured in Israel’s army offensive in Gaza, the enclave’s well being ministry stated in a press release on Saturday.
Sunday’s information was more likely to spur additional protests by Israelis demanding a hostage launch deal.
The Hostage Households Discussion board referred to as on Netanyahu to take duty and clarify what was holding up an settlement.
“They were all murdered in the last few days, after surviving almost 11 months of abuse, torture, and starvation in Hamas captivity. The delay in signing the deal has led to their deaths and those of many other hostages,” it stated.
Goldberg-Polin, captured at a music competition close to Gaza, appeared in a video launched by Hamas in late April.
“He had just turned 23. He planned to travel the world,” Biden stated. His dad and mom, Rachel Goldberg and Jon Polin, “have been courageous, wise, and steadfast, even as they have endured the unimaginable,” he stated.
“They have been relentless and irrepressible champions of their son and of all the hostages held in unconscionable conditions. I admire them and grieve with them more deeply than words can express,” the president stated.
Biden vowed that “Hamas leaders will pay for these crimes. And we will keep working around the clock for a deal to secure the release of the remaining hostages.”
Vice President Kamala Harris stated in a press release, “I strongly condemn Hamas’ continued brutality, and so must the entire world.” Harris, the Democratic candidate working to succeed Biden, stated she and he would by no means waver of their dedication to free the People and all these held hostage in Gaza.
Earlier, talking to reporters in Rehoboth Seaside, Delaware, Biden stated he was “still optimistic” a couple of ceasefire deal to cease the battle.
“I think we’re on the verge of having an agreement,” he stated. “It’s time this war ended.”
Biden added that “people are continuing to meet.”
“We think we can close the deal, they’ve all said they agree on the principles.”