The Israeli military announced on Monday that four hostages kidnapped by Hamas on October 7 have been confirmed dead. The victims, including three elderly men who had appeared in a Hamas video pleading for release, were Haim Perry, 79, Amiram Cooper, 84, Yoram Metzger, 80, and Nadav Popplewell, 51.
This revelation comes amid growing public pressure on the Israeli government to accept a U.S.-proposed ceasefire that could secure the return of hostages still held in Gaza and bring an end to the prolonged conflict. The announcement was based on new intelligence and confirmed by a Health Ministry expert in coordination with the Religious Services Ministry and the Chief Rabbi of Israel.
President Joe Biden recently proposed a ceasefire, emphasizing its Israeli origins, though Israeli leaders have distanced themselves from the plan, reiterating their commitment to military operations against Hamas until the group is eradicated. This stance has sparked some of the largest protests in Israel, with citizens demanding the government prioritize the return of the hostages.
About 80 hostages are believed to be alive in Gaza, alongside the remains of 43 others. The recent deaths bring the total number of confirmed deceased hostages to 41 out of the 120 still held by Hamas. In November, a weeklong exchange led to the release of about 100 captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
Hamas had previously released propaganda videos featuring the elderly hostages and later claimed they were killed by Israeli strikes, a claim the IDF did not confirm until now. The news has added urgency to calls for the Israeli government to negotiate a ceasefire.
Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military spokesman, stated that recent operations allowed the military to gather sufficient intelligence to confirm the hostages’ deaths. He indicated that further questions about the circumstances remain under investigation.
The Hostages & Missing Families Forum, representing the families of those captured, issued a statement expressing profound sorrow and demanding immediate government action to secure the return of all hostages. “The heartbreak that comes with this painful news should shake every citizen in the State of Israel and lead every leader to profound soul-searching,” the forum stated.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in significant casualties, with Gaza’s Health Ministry reporting over 36,000 Palestinians killed, though it does not distinguish between combatants and civilians. Israeli bombardments and ground operations continue, especially in the southern city of Rafah, severely disrupting the flow of humanitarian aid to the besieged population.
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