Israel’s navy says it has established the deaths of 4 extra individuals kidnapped by Hamas on 7 October.
It says the 4 had been killed whereas collectively throughout an Israeli operation in Khan Younis in southern Gaza, including that their our bodies had been nonetheless being held by the militants.
The lads had been named as British-Israeli Nadav Popplewell, 51, Chaim Peri, 79, Yoram Metzger, 80, and Amiram Cooper, 85.
IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari mentioned intelligence gathered in latest weeks had led to the evaluation.
“We assess that the 4 of them had been killed whereas collectively within the space of Khan Younis throughout our operation there towards Hamas,” he mentioned, with out giving additional particulars.
Final month Hamas claimed that Nadav Popplewell had died in an Israeli strike in April. The UK Overseas Workplace mentioned it was investigating however there was no affirmation of his loss of life till now.
Hamas released a video showing the other three men in December.
Israel launched a navy marketing campaign in Gaza in response to Hamas’s assault on southern Israel on 7 October, throughout which about 1,200 individuals had been killed and 251 others had been taken hostage, in keeping with Israeli authorities.
Hamas launched 105 civilians throughout a week-long truce in November.
About 120 hostages stay unaccounted for. Israeli officers have mentioned many are presumed useless.
Israel launched a navy marketing campaign in Gaza to destroy Hamas in response to the group’s cross-border assault in October.
At the very least 36,470 individuals have been killed in Gaza since then, in keeping with the Hamas-run well being ministry.
