The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Sunday the recovery of the bodies of six hostages, including an Israeli American, from an underground tunnel in Rafah, Gaza. The hostages were among the more than 200 individuals taken captive by Hamas militants during their attack on Israel on October 7. The IDF reported that the hostages were killed by their captors shortly before Israeli forces reached them.
The six hostages, identified as Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Eden Yerushalmi, Carmel Gat, Almog Sarusi, Alexander Lobanov, and Ori Danino, were discovered in a Hamas-controlled tunnel approximately one kilometer from the location where another hostage had been rescued days earlier. Five of these hostages had been abducted from an Israeli music festival, which was the site of a brutal attack that left hundreds dead and dozens more kidnapped. The sixth hostage was taken from a nearby farming community.
The bodies of Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi, and Master Sergeant Ori Danino were found and recovered yesterday.
They were all taken hostage on October 7 and were murdered by the Hamas terrorist organization while in captivity… pic.twitter.com/9VWYHNX0Ks
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) September 1, 2024
The discovery of the bodies has ignited widespread outrage across Israel. Tens of thousands of Israelis took to the streets Sunday night, demanding a cease-fire with Hamas to secure the return of the remaining hostages. The protests, among the largest since the conflict began, reflect growing frustration with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the hostage crisis. Many Israelis blame Netanyahu for the prolonged stalemate in cease-fire negotiations, with some accusing his government of prioritizing military objectives over the lives of the hostages.
Adding to the public anger, it was revealed that three of the six hostages were slated to be released in the first phase of a cease-fire agreement discussed in July. The failure to secure their release before their deaths has further fueled demands for immediate action to bring the remaining hostages home.
🚨🇮🇱 MASSIVE PROTEST in Israel calling on Netanyahu to RESIGN IMMEDIATELY! pic.twitter.com/tMU5EDD3YA
— Jackson Hinkle 🇺🇸 (@jacksonhinklle) September 1, 2024
The situation has also prompted Israel’s largest trade union, the Histadrut, to call for a general strike on Monday, aiming to shut down major sectors of the economy in a bid to pressure the government into securing a cease-fire.
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