JERUSALEM. The Israeli military announced on Tuesday that it had recovered the bodies of six hostages from Gaza, who were abducted during the Hamas attack on October 7 that triggered the ongoing war. This recovery comes as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Arab mediators strive to advance a ceasefire agreement and negotiate the release of other captives held by militants.
The Israeli military reported that the bodies were retrieved in an overnight operation in southern Gaza. Details on the circumstances of their deaths were not provided, though a forum representing the hostage families confirmed they were initially taken alive. Hamas has alleged that some hostages were killed or injured in Israeli airstrikes.
The recovery of these remains is a significant setback for Hamas, which seeks to use hostage exchanges as leverage for Palestinian prisoner releases, an Israeli withdrawal, and a durable ceasefire. It also intensifies pressure on the Israeli government to secure a deal for the remaining hostages still believed to be alive.
The military identified the deceased as Chaim Perry, 80; Yoram Metzger, 80; Avraham Munder, 79; Alexander Dancyg, 76; Nadav Popplewell, 51; and Yagev Buchshtav, 35. Notably, Metzger, Munder, Popplewell, and Buchshtav had family members who were also abducted but released during a November ceasefire.
Kibbutz Nir Oz, where Munder was taken captive, confirmed his death, stating he had endured “months of physical and mental torture.” The Israeli authorities had previously determined that the other five hostages were deceased.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his condolences, stating, “Our hearts ache for the terrible loss.” He reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to returning all hostages, whether alive or dead.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant praised the operation, noting it was conducted within Hamas’ extensive tunnel network. There were no immediate reports of casualties among Israelis or Palestinians during the recovery.
Hamas is still believed to hold approximately 110 hostages from the October 7 attack, with Israeli officials estimating that about one-third of them are deceased. Blinken, currently on his ninth visit to the region since the war began, reported that Netanyahu has agreed to a proposal aimed at bridging gaps in the ceasefire negotiations, urging Hamas to do the same.
Hamas has accused the U.S. of aligning with Israeli demands and attempting to impose them on the militant group. Key issues remain unresolved, including Israel’s demand for enduring control over two strategic Gaza corridors, which Hamas has rejected.
Since the attack on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of about 1,200 people, predominantly civilians, and the capture of around 250 hostages, the conflict has escalated. Over 100 hostages were previously released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners during a ceasefire last year. The ongoing Israeli offensive has claimed over 40,000 Palestinian lives, with widespread destruction and displacement affecting Gaza’s 2.3 million residents. Aid organizations are concerned about potential disease outbreaks, including polio.
The Palestinian Civil Defense reported that an Israeli airstrike on the Mustafa Hafez school in Gaza City, where around 700 people were sheltering, resulted in at least 10 deaths. An additional airstrike in central Gaza killed a mother and her five children.
Mediators are working to finalize a proposal for a three-phase process involving hostage releases, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, and a lasting truce. Blinken is scheduled to visit Egypt and Qatar, which have been instrumental in mediating with Hamas.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
