A comprehensive investigation by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has concluded that Hamas was responsible for the deaths of six hostages whose bodies were recovered in Khan Yunis after they were kidnapped by the terrorist organization.
The six hostages, including Nadav Popplewell, Yagev Buchshtab, Yoram Metzger, Haim Peri, Alexander Dancyg, and Avraham Munder, were kidnapped by Hamas in October 2023.
The investigation revealed that the hostages were held in a large underground Hamas command center in Khan Yunis, along with a larger group of hostages, until they were separated from the other hostages and moved to a neighborhood in Hamad, four kilometers away.
On February 14, the IDF bombed the tunnel areas where the hostages were likely being held, killing around six Hamas guards. While the bombing may have been responsible for the deaths of the guards, it is believed that Hamas had already killed the hostages before the bombing.
Signs of gunfire were found on the bodies of the six hostages, indicating that they were likely killed by their Hamas guards, rather than by the Israeli military. The investigation also found that the Hamas guards who were killed in the bombing had no signs of gunfire, only signs of airstrikes.
The IDF announced that the four of the six hostages had been confirmed dead as early as June, and by July, all six had been confirmed dead.
The families of the hostages were notified of their deaths by the IDF, along with the National Institute of Forensic Medicine, Israel Police, and the IDF Manpower Directorate’s Hostage Team. The investigation was carried out by the IDF, Shin Bet, and the IDF Intelligence Directorate.
The Hostage Families Forum, a support group for families of hostages, issued a statement calling for the hostages who are still alive to be released as soon as possible, saying that time is of the essence and many of the hostages are still alive but enduring impossible conditions of abuse, starvation, and isolation.
