Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) troops discovered the bodies of six hostages in an underground tunnel in Rafah, southern Gaza, early Saturday morning.
The victims were identified as Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, Eden Yerushalmi, 24, Almog Sarusi, 25, Alexander Lobanov, 32, Carmel Gat, 40, and Master Sgt. Ori Danino, 25.
IDF Spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari announced, “We have just informed the families that IDF troops have located the bodies of their loved ones in an underground tunnel in Rafah. Our preliminary assessment indicates that they were brutally murdered by Hamas terrorists shortly before we reached them.”
The six hostages were abducted during the Hamas-led attack on the northwestern Negev on October 7 and were killed while in captivity. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant praised the IDF and the Israel Security Agency for their efforts in retrieving the bodies for burial in Israel, saying, “They were held hostage by Hamas and murdered in cold blood. May their memory be a blessing.”
