Families attend the funeral of slain hostage Eden Yerushalmi. at a cemetery in Petach Tikva. Eden was killed in Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip, Sept. 1, 2024. Photo by Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90
Israeli health officials determined that the six hostages who were recovered from Gaza on Saturday were executed at close range only a short time before IDF soldiers reached them, Israeli media reported on Sunday evening.
Following an autopsy by health experts at the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute, the Israeli Ministry of Health stated: “It was found that the six hostages were murdered by Hamas terrorists with several shots from short range. According to the forensic examination, the death of the abductees is estimated to be approximately 48-72 hours before their examination (Thursday evening to Friday morning).”
Israeli soldiers recovered the bodies of Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi, and Ori Danino overnight between Saturday and Sunday.
Media reports noted that gunshot wounds were found on their heads and other parts of their bodies. The bodies also showed signs of hardship and neglect suffered for more than 10 months. They were extremely thin, appeared not to have showered for an extended period, and some showed signs of having been tied up.
Some of the hostages showed signs of old wounds, likely sustained during their abduction on Oct. 7. Goldberg-Polin lost part of his arm during the violent kidnapping by Hamas terrorists that morning.
On Sunday, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi inspected the location in a tunnel under the town of Rafah where the six hostages’ bodies were found. He was joined by the commander of the IDF Southern Command, Maj.-Gen. Yaron Finkelman and IDF hostage point man, Maj.-Gen. (Ret.) Nitzan Alon.
According to Channel 12, security officials believe Hamas may have executed the six hostages out of concern that Qaid Farhan al-Qadi, who was rescued alive from a nearby tunnel the week before, would give the IDF clues as to where other hostages were being held.
The six deceased hostages were discovered about 20 meters (65 feet) underground without prior intelligence, a little over half a mile from the tunnel where al-Qadi was held.
“Since Farhan was found, troops were given an emphasis on operating carefully even more than usual, because of the understanding that additional hostages might be in the area. We did not have information on the exact location of the hostages,” said IDF Spokesman Brig.-Gen. Daniel Hagari.
The soldiers did not encounter any terrorists during the operation, suggesting the hostages were executed before the gunmen fled. Israeli media noted the possibility that the terrorists were eventually killed during the ongoing battles above ground in the Rafah area.
