Israel’s military announced on Sunday that it had recovered the bodies of six captives, including a dual US national, from a tunnel in southern Gaza.
The recovery comes as Israel’s offensive on the Palestinian enclave enters its 11th month, leaving more than 40,000 Palestinians dead since the conflict began on October 7.
The captives—Almog Sarusi, Alex Lobanov, Carmel Gat, Ori Danino, Eden Yerushalmi, and Hersh Goldberg-Polin—were found in an underground tunnel in Rafah. Their remains have been returned to Israel, where they were formally identified. Israeli officials claimed that the captives were killed shortly before their bodies were recovered.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to "settle the score" with Hamas, stating, "We will hunt you down. Those who kill hostages do not want an agreement" for a Gaza truce. However, a senior Hamas official, Izzat al-Risheq, claimed that the six captives were killed by Israeli airstrikes and blamed the United States for its "bias, support, and partnership" in what he termed the "11-month war on the besieged territory."
The news has further fueled criticism of Netanyahu’s handling of the hostage crisis, with families of the remaining captives urging the government to sign a deal with Hamas to free about 100 people still held in Gaza. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, a collective representing the families, called for a massive protest, demanding a "complete halt of the country" to push for the implementation of a ceasefire and the release of the captives.
"A deal for the return of the hostages has been on the table for over two months. Were it not for the delays, sabotage, and excuses, those whose deaths we learned about this morning would likely still be alive. It’s time to bring our hostages home," the forum said in a statement.
In a video message on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), opposition leader Yair Lapid urged citizens to protest, stating, "Netanyahu and the death cabinet decided not to rescue the hostages. I call on the Histadrut, the employers, and the local authorities to shut down the economy."
Netanyahu has been accused of refusing to strike a deal to secure the release of the captives, with critics arguing that this decision has led to their deaths. Menachem Klein, a professor of political science at Bar-Ilan University, commented, "Israel refuses to come down to reality. That’s the problem. And it cost the life of Israeli hostages."
US President Joe Biden expressed his devastation and outrage over the deaths of the six captives, including Israeli-American Goldberg-Polin. He pledged that "Hamas leaders will pay for these crimes" and that efforts to secure the release of the remaining hostages would continue "around the clock."
Despite calls for a ceasefire, Israel has continued its military operations in Gaza, leading to widespread destruction and allegations of war crimes.
The International Criminal Court has sought arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes, along with warrants for two Hamas leaders.
