JERUSALEM. The Israeli military has confirmed the deaths of four more hostages kidnapped on October 7, including three elderly men who appeared in a Hamas video pleading for their release. This announcement on Monday intensifies pressure on the Israeli government to accept a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal that could facilitate the return of remaining hostages in Gaza and potentially end the eight-month conflict.
Currently, around 80 hostages are believed to be alive in Gaza, with the remains of 43 others also present. Since President Joe Biden introduced the ceasefire proposal last Friday, Israel has witnessed large-scale protests urging the government to bring the hostages home. Despite Biden’s assertion that the proposal originated from Israel, Israeli leaders have distanced themselves from the plan, continuing military operations against Hamas until the militant group is dismantled.
The four men confirmed dead on Monday night—Nadav Popplewell, Amiram Cooper, Yoram Metzger, and Haim Peri—were taken alive into Gaza, according to the Hostages Forum, an advocacy group for the hostages’ families. The group issued a statement following the announcement, saying, “It is time to end this cycle of sacrifice and neglect. Their murder in captivity is a mark of disgrace and a sad reflection on the significance of delaying previous deals.” They called for the immediate approval of the new ceasefire plan.
Hundreds of protesters, including relatives of the captives, gathered outside Israel’s Defense Ministry and military headquarters in Tel Aviv on Monday night, demanding a deal. Smaller protests occurred across the country.
In November, around 100 captives were released during a weeklong exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners. The three men declared dead on Monday had female relatives released during that exchange. Israel’s military spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, reported that the four hostages were killed during an army operation in Khan Younis in southern Gaza, adding that recent operations had provided enough intelligence to confirm their deaths. Their bodies remain with Hamas, and the exact cause of death is unknown. Hamas previously claimed that Nadav Popplewell died from wounds sustained in an Israeli airstrike, but provided no evidence.
The three elderly men—Cooper, Metzger, and Peri—appeared gaunt and frail in a December video released by Hamas, titled “Don’t let us grow old here.” In the video, they expressed confusion and despair over their abandonment. Cooper, an economist, was a founder of Kibbutz Nir Oz. Metzger contributed to the kibbutz winery, and Peri established its art gallery and sculpture garden. Kibbutz Nir Oz was severely impacted during the October 7 Hamas attack, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 Israelis and the abduction of around 250 hostages to Gaza.
Earlier on Monday, the military announced the discovery of Dolev Yehud’s body in a community near the Gaza border, attacked by Hamas on October 7. Yehud, 35, was previously thought to be among the hostages in Gaza until his body was found, revealing he had been killed in the initial attack.
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.
