Israeli forces have recovered the bodies of six hostages from the Khan Younis region in southern Gaza during an overnight operation, according to statements from both the military and the prime minister’s office on Tuesday.
The families of Yagev Buchshtab, Alexander Dancyg, Avraham Munder, Yoram Metzger, Nadav Popplewell, and Chaim Perry have been notified, the statements continued.
The Hostages Families Forum, a group representing most of the hostage families, expressed relief at the news but reiterated its demand for the government to finalize a deal with the Palestinian militant group Hamas, based in Gaza, for the release of all hostages.
“The swift return of the remaining 109 hostages can only be secured through a negotiated agreement. The Israeli government, with the help of mediators, must do everything possible to finalize the deal currently being discussed,” the organization stated.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is visiting the Middle East this week in an effort to broker a ceasefire and secure the return of hostages between Israel and Hamas.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched an attack on Israeli communities, killing around 1,200 people and capturing approximately 250 hostages, according to Israeli reports.
Since then, Israel’s military has destroyed large portions of the Palestinian territory, displacing nearly all of its 2.3 million residents, leading to widespread hunger, disease, and the deaths of at least 40,000 people, according to Palestinian health officials.
NANCY MBAMALU
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