White House: ‘Israel Army Finds Six Bodies Of Hostages Found In Gaza’
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
JERUSALEM/WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – U.S. President Joe Biden and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Sunday that Israel’s military found six bodies of hostages in Gaza, where Hamas still holds more than 100 hostages.
The human remains were found in a tunnel under the city of Rafah and included the body of Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, the White House and the IDF said in separate statements.
The U.S. administration “is working around the clock for a deal to secure the release of the remaining hostages,” the White House added.
The hostages of whom the bodies were discovered were named Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Eden Yerushalmi, Carmel Gat, Almog Sarusi, Alexander Lobanov, and Ori Danino.
All but one of the recovered hostages were taken from the Nova musical festival in southern on October 7 of last year, Israeli sources said.
The hostages “were murdered by Hamas” before the Israeli army could rescue them, added an IDF spokesperson.
The hostages were likely killed after last week Israel’s military rescued Israeli-Bedouin hostage Qaid Farhan Alkadi, 52, who was held by Hamas since October 7, according to Israeli sources familiar with the situation. Their bodies were found only one kilometer (0.6 miles) from where Qaid Farhan Alkadi, age 52, from Rahat, was found last week, Israeli media said.
EXTRA CAREFUL
Since Kaadi was found, the IDF instructed forces to be extra careful in the area, Worthy News learned. “But it is possible that Hamas killed the six knowing that the military was close by and that the hostages might be taken by the IDF alive,” The Jerusalem Post newspaper commented.
However, opponents of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies threatened protests to secure the release of those still being held. The Hostage Families Forum, which represents most hostage families, warned that
“Starting tomorrow, the country will tremble” and “grind to a halt.”
They added that “Netanyahu abandoned the hostages: This is now a fact,” but did not provide details, saying that those would come in the morning. The prime minister maintains he is doing everything humanly possible to free the hostages while at the same time pledging to destroy Hamas.
Ahead of the expected protests, the loved ones of hostages and likely much of Israel plunged into sorrow over those who had died in Gaza.
The family of Eden Yerushalmi said, “We share with great sorrow that our beloved Eden was murdered in captivity.”
Family members of Ori Danino shared a social media post by his brother with a message alongside the words “Baruch Dayan,” the Hebrew words for “Blessed is the True Judge.”
Ori Danino turned 25 in Hamas captivity after being captured from the Nova festival alongside friends Omer Shem-Tov, who remains in captivity, and siblings Maya and Itai Regev, who were freed in a November hostage release deal.
NOVA FESTIVAL
All but one of the recovered hostages were taken from the Nova musical festival on October 7 of last year.
Hersh Goldberg-Polin, the Israeli-American hostage who became a well-known face and voice for hostages, was born in California before moving to California when he was 7.
He, too, was abducted by Hamas from the Nova music festival last year. During his kidnapping, he was reportedly maimed by a grenade that blew off his left hand.
Eden Yerushalmi, a twenty-four-year-old pilates teacher, was also kidnapped by Hamas from the Nova music festival. Initially, the teacher hid in a car alongside the bodies of murdered friends, Israeli sources said.
Fearful of being caught, she escaped to a forest where she hid in a bush for hours. All the while, she remained in contact with Shani, her sister, who heard Hamas fighters approaching. “I could hear them through the phone,” Shani recalled. “I knew that those were my last moments with my sister.” Finally, her sister whispered, “They caught me.”
Carmel Gat was taken captive from Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7. Gat led hostages with guided yoga exercises and meditation, former hostages reported.
Almog Sarusi was also taken from the Nova festival. Sarusi’s partner, Shahar Gindi, was murdered there.
RUSSIAN ISRAELI
Alexander Lobanov, a 32-year-old Russian-Israeli, was also kidnapped from Nova. Lobanov’s wife, Michal, gave birth to her second son in February while he was in captivity.
As they were being remembered, opposition leader Yair Lapid lashed out at the government, saying, “While our sons and daughters are abandoned and die in captivity, Netanyahu is busy spinning the narrative.”
He said the prime minister seemed more concerned with the continuity of his coalition than the war or the hostages. “We will continue to stand by the families and hug and protect them in difficult times,” he added.
U.S. President Joe Biden acknowledged the news that the IDF had recovered bodies, allegedly hostages, from Gaza but said he did not know their identities on Saturday night.
Exiting a church in Rehoboth, Delaware, Biden also said it was “time to end this war” and that “we are on the verge of having an agreement.”
However, Israel has been reluctant to agree on a ceasefire deal with security guarantees such as keeping its troops in critical areas to prevent Hamas from reemerging as a formidable force.
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