Israeli Military Recovers Six Bodies of Israeli Hostages in Gaza

According to Israeli media, five were killed by Israeli airstrikes

The Israeli military said Tuesday that its forces recovered the bodies of six Israeli hostages in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis.

According to Ynet, initial findings show that five of the Israelis were killed as a result of a nearby Israeli airstrike. The strike caused a fire, which flooded the tunnel where they were held with carbon monoxide, killing the five Israelis and Hamas guards that were holding them. The other hostage was shot, according to an autopsy.

According to Axios, there are now 109 hostages remaining in Gaza, but about half are presumed dead. In response to the news of the six bodies being recovered, a group representing hostage families called for a deal with Hamas.

“The immediate return of the remaining 109 hostages can only be achieved through a negotiated deal. The Israeli government, with the assistance of mediators, must do everything in its power to finalize the deal currently on the table,” the Hostage Families and Missing Forum said in a statement.

Family members of the six men whose bodies were recovered blamed their deaths on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been working to sabotage the chances of a deal with Hamas.

“He and all the hostages could have been brought back,” said Mati Dancyg, whose father Alex was among the recovered bodies. “Netanyahu chose to sacrifice the hostages. Karma will judge him and he will pay for it, big time.”

Author: Dave DeCamp

Dave DeCamp is the news editor of Antiwar.com, follow him on Twitter @decampdave.