A complete IDF probe has concluded that the army didn’t kill six hostages whose our bodies have been recovered from Khan Yunis on August 20 after having been kidnapped by Hamas.
Rather, there have been indicators of gunfire on all six hostages’ our bodies, such that they have been doubtless killed by their Hamas guards. These six hostages are totally different from a gaggle of six hostages who have been killed by Hamas in Tel Sultan in Rafah at a later date when the army was maneuvering near the place they have been being held. The six hostages have been Nadav Popplewell, Yagev Buchshtab, Yoram Metzger, Haim Peri, Alexander Dancyg, and Avraham Munder. There is room for uncertainty concerning their deaths as a result of, on February 14, the air power bombed the tunnel areas the place the hostages have been doubtless being saved, killing round six Hamas guards.IDF sources admitted that this meant that if the Hamas guards had not already shot the six hostages, the air power bombing in all probability would have killed them.
Additional Hamas forces later encountered the our bodies, but it surely seems they didn’t transfer them to a distinct space, believing that the IDF wouldn’t discover them, which it didn’t for one more six months.
In addition, the IDF disclosed the actions of the hostages so far as it is aware of up till their demise.
According to the IDF, the six hostages have been held together with a bigger group of hostages within the largest underground Hamas command heart in Gaza, in Khan Yunis, till the tip of December.
This was the realm with synthetic turf and enormous numbers of cages in addition to prime senior Hamas leaders.
A video launched by the IDF concerning the investigation of the demise of six hostages in a Hamas tunnel within the Khan Yunis space (December 4, 2024, IDF Spokesperson’s Unit).
At the tip of December, the six have been separated from the opposite hostages in addition to from the highest Hamas leaders, and have been moved to Hamad, a neighborhood 4 kilometers away from their earlier hiding spot in Khan Yunis.
This occurred because the IDF made breakthroughs in its invasion of Khan Yunis, which had began on December 1. The IDF didn’t inject massive numbers of troopers into Hamad till months after it had taken over the remainder of Khan Yunis correct.On February 14, the IDF carried out airstrikes in opposition to Hamas battalion commanders within the space the place the hostages have been being held underground.
The IDF believes that Hamas shot and killed them shortly earlier than they themselves have been killed. Unlike the hostages, who had indicators of gunfire on their our bodies, the Hamas guards solely had indicators of airstrikes. On June 3, the IDF confirmed 4 of the six have been useless, regardless that it had not recovered the our bodies. By July 22, the IDF was capable of verify all six have been useless. The August 20 rescue operation was carried out by the IDF’s 98th Division and carried out by the Paratroopers Brigade, Yahalom Unit, and the seventy fifth Battalion, together with ISA forces. The operation was managed by army intelligence, Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), and the IDF Intelligence Directorate Hostage Headquarters. It was introduced by Kibbutz Nirim earlier that the our bodies of Popplewell and Buchshtab have been retrieved from Gaza. Similarly, Kibbutz Nir Oz introduced that the our bodies of Peri, Metzger, and Dancyg have been additionally retrieved. Munder was believed to be alive till Kibbutz Nir Oz introduced his demise whereas in Gaza captivity. The National Institute of Forensic Medicine, Israel Police, and the IDF Manpower Directorate’s Hostage Team carried out an identification process of the our bodies and notified their households and communities.Nadav Popplewell
Popplewell, 51 years outdated, was kidnapped from Nirim on October 7. In June, the IDF introduced he had been killed in Hamas captivity.
Kibbutz Nirim mentioned that he cherished books and science fiction. Popplewell was taken hostage alongside together with his mom, Channah Peri, who was launched within the November 2023 hostage deal following 49 days in Gaza captivity. Both have been taken from their house’s protected room. Popplewell’s brother Roi, aged 54, was murdered on October 7.Yagev Buchshtab
Buchshtab, 35 years outdated, was seized from Kibbutz Nirim on October 7 alongside together with his spouse, Rimon Kirsht Buchshtab, 36, who was launched on November 28, 2023 as a part of the hostage deal.
In July, the IDF introduced he had been killed in Gaza captivity. Buchshtab was a sound technician and had a ardour for music.
Yoram Metzger
Metzger, 80 years outdated, was seized from Nir Oz on October 7. In June, the IDF introduced he had been killed whereas in Hamas captivity. He is survived by his spouse, Tamar, who was kidnapped together with him and launched within the November hostage deal, three kids, and 7 grandchildren.
At the kibbutz, Yoram labored within the Nirlat manufacturing unit and as a kibbutz mechanic.
Haim Peri
Peri, 79, was kidnapped from kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7. In June, the IDF introduced he had been killed in Hamas captivity.
“On the day of the bloodbath within the kibbutz, Haim managed to save lots of his spouse, Asnat, earlier than being kidnapped himself. He survived in inhumane circumstances within the Hamas tunnels for months, till he was brutally murdered in captivity,” the kibbutz wrote in a press release in August.
Peri was a father of 5, a grandfather to 13, a peace activist, and the founding father of an artwork gallery. He additionally taught at Sapir College.Alexander Dancyg
Dancyg, 76 years outdated, was kidnapped from Nir Oz on October 7. In July, the IDF introduced he had been killed in Gaza captivity.
Born to Holocaust survivors, Dancyg was an educator and historian who labored at Yad Vashem for almost 30 years. He was one of many founders of academic delegations to Poland and led lots of them.
Avraham Munder
Munder was kidnapped from kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7. Munder fought and was wounded within the Six-Day War, in response to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.
Munder’s nephew advised KAN Reshet Bet earlier that his uncle’s physique had been recovered from Gaza and that “it’s unhappy that an individual who participated in liberating Jerusalem and answered the decision to develop communities within the Negev had his life ended by being thrown apart in a tunnel in Khan Yunis.”
He lived in Kibbutz Nir Oz for greater than 50 years and took half within the Eshkol choir. He was kidnapped to the Gaza Strip on October 7 alongside together with his spouse, Ruti, his daughter, Keren, and his nine-year-old grandson, Ohad, who was launched within the November 2023 hostage deal following 49 days in captivity.Hostage Families Forum responds
After the outcomes of the probe have been revealed, the Hostage Families Forum offered a press release, saying, “After 425 agonizing days, the investigation’s findings function yet one more proof that the lives of hostages face fixed, every day hazard. Time is of the essence – most of the hostages are nonetheless alive and enduring inconceivable circumstances of abuse, hunger, and isolation.”
“As [US] President-elect Donald Trump has emphasised – they should be launched earlier than he takes workplace – they won’t survive captivity till then. The present and incoming American administration, together with mediating international locations, should do all the pieces vital to attain a deal for the hostages’ return.”Gadi Zaig, Yael Helfon, and Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.
