Israeli Military Recovers Bodies of Six Hostages from Gaza

Israeli Military Recovers Bodies of Six Hostages from Gaza

The Israeli military has recovered the bodies of six hostages from the Gaza Strip following an overnight operation in Khan Younis, a city in the southern part of the territory, on Tuesday morning.

The Israeli army confirmed that the families of the six men, aged between 35 and 80, have been notified. According to the military, several of the men had previously been declared dead. Reports indicate that they were all alive at the time of their abduction.

As of now, the Palestinian militant group Hamas is still holding 109 hostages, many of whom are feared to be dead, according to Israel’s records.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is currently mediating discussions to establish a ceasefire in Gaza and secure the release of the remaining hostages. While Israel has agreed to a U.S.-backed proposal to bridge the differences with Hamas, the militant group has yet to accept the terms.

Hamas and other militant factions abducted 253 people during the Oct. 7 attack on Israel. Some hostages were freed through a prisoner exchange, while others were rescued during Israeli military operations, which have been met with international scrutiny due to the impact on Palestinian civilians.