A day or two before the Israeli army located them, yesterday, Saturday, the six Hamas hostages were executed.
This is what the Israeli army says in its update, which yesterday found their bodies through a tunnel in Rafah, in the south of Gaza.
The six were kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, 2023.
IDF spokesman Vice Admiral Daniel Hagari said the six “brutally murdered” by Hamas shortly before the arrival of Israeli troops, probably just a day or two before they were encountered.
“According to an initial assessment… they were brutally murdered by Hamas terrorists shortly before reaching them,” Hagari told a news conference.
“Their bodies were found during the fighting in Rafah, in a tunnel, about a kilometer from another tunnel. in which we rescued Farhan al-Qadi a few days ago“, he himself said.
We didn’t know the exact location
The IDF said it did not know the exact location of the hostages, but had indications of a general area where the six might be held and was therefore “operating with caution” in the area.
“Since Farhan was located, troops have been ordered to operate with even more caution than usual as we understand there may be additional hostages in the area. We had no information on the exact location of the hostages,” Hagari said.
Troops began searching a tunnel complex, about 20 meters underground, on Saturday and found the hostages dead in the afternoon. Their bodies were taken out of Gaza overnight and taken to Israel for identification.
The IDF said there were no clashes with Hamas terrorists inside the tunnel and that the terrorists who likely killed the six had left the area. However, troops fought terrorists above ground in the area where the tunnel was located, according to the IDF briefing.
Who were the six hostages?
- Hersh Goldberg-Polin (Hersh Goldberg-Polin) 23 years old
He was born in California and has lived there since he was 7. On October 7, 2023, he was kidnapped by Hamas at the Nova music festival. During his abduction, he was crippled by a grenade that exploded in his left arm. Goldberg-Paulin, who was taken hostage during a music festival near Gaza, appeared in a video released by Hamas in late April. - Eden Yerushalmi (Eden Yerushalmi) 24 years old
Eden Jerusalem, a 24-year-old pilates professional, was also kidnapped at the Nova music festival.
The 24-year-old was kidnapped at the Nova festival. He initially hid in a car, next to the bodies of his murdered friends.
Fearing she would be caught, she fled into a forest where she hid in a bush for hours. All the while, Eden kept in touch with Sunny, her sister, who had heard the terrorists approaching. “I could hear them on the phone,” Sunny said. “I knew these were my last moments with my sister.” Finally, Eden whispered, “I’ve been caught.” - Carmel Gat (Carmel Gat) 40 years old
Carmel Gat was arrested at Kibbutz Beeri on October 7. Ghat is said to have helped the hostages with yoga and meditation exercises. - Almog Sarusi, 27 years old
He was also arrested at the Nova festival, where his partner, Sassar Ghidi, was also murdered. - Alexander Lobanov (Alexander Lobanov) 32 years old
Alexander Lobanov, a 32-year-old Russian-Israeli, was also kidnapped in Novaya Zemlya. Lobanov’s wife Michal gave birth to their second child in February while he was in captivity. - Ori Danino (Ori Danino) 25 years old
Ori Danino, another hostage at the music festival, has been a Hamas prisoner for 25 years. Danino was arrested by the Nova festival along with friends Omer Shem-Tov, who remains captive, and brothers Maya and Itai Regev, who were released in the November hostage deal.
The bodies of Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi and Sergeant Ori Danino were found and recovered yesterday.
They were all taken hostage on October 7 and murdered by the terrorist organization Hamas while in captivity… pic.twitter.com/9VWYHNX0Ks
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) September 1, 2024
Biden: They will pay
“He had just turned 23. He was planning to travel around the world,” Biden said of the American-Israeli Goldberg-Paulin.
His parents, Rachel Goldberg and John Palin, “were brave, wise and steadfast, even as they endured what they could not have imagined,” Biden said.
“They fought tirelessly for their son and for all the hostages held in unacceptable conditions. I admire them and mourn with them most deeply than words can express,” the president said.
Biden promised that “Hamas leaders will pay for their crimes. And we will continue to work around the clock to reach an agreement that secures the release of the remaining hostages.”
The Vice President Kamala Harris said in a statement that she strongly condemns the continued brutality of Hamas, and so should the entire world. Harris, the Democratic nominee to succeed Biden, said she and the president would remain unwavering in their commitment to the release of Americans and all hostages held in Gaza.
Speaking to reporters earlier in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, Biden said he is still “optimistic” that an agreement will be reached ceasefire to stop the war.
“I think we are close to a deal,” he said. “It is time for this war to end.”