Israeli Forces Recover Bodies of 6 Hamas Captives Near Rafah

Last updated on September 2nd, 2024 at 09:20 am

The Israeli military, on Aug. 31, located the bodies of six captives Hamas has held in the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7.

In all, the Israeli government identified the deceased captives as Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi, and Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Master Sgt. Ori Danino.

Goldberg-Polin was an Israeli-American citizen and Israeli military veteran. He was one of eight Americans taken by Palestinian militants on Oct. 7.

Israeli forces reportedly discovered the bodies of the six captives in an underground tunnel in the Rafah area of southern Gaza.

In a statement shared with FreeBase News, Israeli military Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani said Israeli forces believe Hamas gunmen killed the six captives shortly before Israeli troops could reach the tunnel.

Israeli and Hamas negotiators have been working for weeks, through intermediaries, to reach a ceasefire agreement that would allow for the release of captives on both sides of the conflict. President Joe Biden and his administration had hoped to finalize a deal in August, but Hamas had raised concerns that the negotiations had deviated away from a framework Biden laid out in May.

Laying out the framework in a May 31 address, Biden insisted the plan called for Israeli forces to eventually withdraw entirely from the Gaza Strip. But Israeli officials have suggested, in more recent weeks, that Israeli troops would retain control over key avenues running through the Gaza Strip, including the so-called Philadelphi Corridor.

Addressing the deaths of the six hostages on Sept. 1, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu argued their deaths served as evidence that Hamas does not want a ceasefire deal.

“Whoever murders hostages – does not want a deal,” Netanyahu said. “For our part, we will not relent. The Government of Israel is committed, and I am personally committed, to continue striving toward a deal that will return all of our hostages and ensure our security and our existence.”

Hamas negotiator Khalil Al-Hayya argued that Netanyahu holds the blame for the hostage deaths.

“The six prisoners could have been brought back alive, but Netanyahu is the reason for their deaths,” Al-Hayya said.

“Netanyahu said that Philadelphi is more important than the prisoners, and he is sacrificing their life because it does not concern him,” the Hamas negotiator added.

The hostage situation has proven a divisive issue in Israeli society. Many Israeli citizens have been adamant that the Netanyahu government reach a deal to win the release of captive Israelis, even if it undercuts Netanyahu’s war goal to dismantle Hamas.

Thousands of Israeli’s gathered to protest throughout the country late on Sunday and on into Monday, Sept. 2.

“Israelis are in the streets demanding Netanyahu sign the deal,” Kulanu Hatufim (in English as “We Are All Hostages”), an Israeli hostage advocacy group critical of Netanyahu, wrote in a Monday social media post. “Israel, its people, and the entire region will be far better off without this government of destruction and bloodshed. End the nightmare! Bring everyone home, end the war, and leave!”

Protests are continuing today. Israelis are in the streets demanding Netanyahu sign the deal.

Israel, its people, and the entire region will be far better off without this government of destruction and bloodshed.

End the nightmare! Bring everyone home, end the war, and leave!… pic.twitter.com/5k8yiXJ4MT

— We Are All Hostages (@AllHostages) September 2, 2024

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, a member of Netanyahu’s governing coalition, argued against a rush toward a ceasefire deal and for Netanyahu to relinquish control of the Philadelphi corridor.

“Unfortunately, I see the disturbing statements from the left, which accuse the Israeli government of murdering the abductees,” Ben-Gvir wrote in a Sunday social media post in Hebrew. “To be clear: the terrorist organization Hamas, it and only it, murdered the abductees. Those who place the blame on the Israeli government echo Hamas propaganda. Those who demand the release of thousands of terrorists and give Hamas control over the Philadelphia axis are intentionally abandoning the security of Israel’s citizens. The blood of the next murdered will be on his hands.⁠”

Ben-Gvir also argued Israel should occupy new territory and establish new Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip, as punishment for the deaths of the six captives.