IDF recovers bodies of 6 Israeli hostages from Khan Younis, including one thought to be alive

The bodies of Alex Dancyg (75), Yagev Buchshtab (35), Chaim Peri (79), Yoram Metzger (80), Nadav Popplewell (51), and Avraham Munder (78) were recovered by Israeli troops from a tunnel in Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip overnight, the Israeli army announced Tuesday morning.

“After an identification procedure was carried out at the National Institute of Forensic Medicine, together with the Israel Police, the hostage team in the human resources division, entrusted with accompanying the families of the abductees, delivered the messages to the families and communities,” Israel Defense Forces stated.

According to the Israeli military, the bodies were found during a joint operation by the IDF and Shin Bet under the command of the 98th Division, which was made possible because of precise intelligence provided by Shin Bet and the IDF’s Intelligence Branch.

“The IDF and Shin Bet share in the grief of the families and kibbutz communities at this difficult time.”

“Overnight our forces returned the bodies of six of our hostages that had been held by the murderous Hamas terrorist organization,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Tuesday morning.

“Our hearts grieve over the terrible loss. My wife Sara and I convey our heartfelt condolences to the dear families,” he said, while also thanking the “brave IDF and ISA fighters and commanders for their heroism.”

Netanyahu vowed that “the State of Israel will continue to make every effort to return all of our hostages – the living and the deceased.”

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant praised the troops for the “daring and dangerous operation in the Hamas tunnels in Khan Yunis.”

“I participate in the mourning and the heavy sorrow of the families and embrace them,” he added.

Of the six hostages, only Munder had not yet been declared dead by the IDF. Peri, Metzger and Popplewell were declared dead in June.

“We estimate that [they] were killed together, in the Khan Younis area, several months ago, while being held by Hamas terrorists and while IDF forces were operating in Khan Younis,” IDF Spokesman Brig.-Gen. Daniel Hagari said at the time.

Dancyg and Buchshtab were confirmed dead by the IDF in late July while the IDF was operating in the area. The two men reportedly died inside the house where they were being held.

However, the IDF was unable to determine whether they were murdered by their captors or killed accidentally as a result of Israeli military activity.

With the six additional bodies recovered from Gaza, 105 of the 251 hostages kidnapped by Hamas on Oct. 7 remain in Gaza, of whom 34 are confirmed dead. In addition, there are four other Israelis – two IDF soldiers who were killed and abducted in 2014, and another two civilians – being held in captivity.

In a statement on Tuesday regarding the death of Munder, who lived on Kibbutz Nir Oz, the kibbutz stated that he had “suffered bodily and mental torture for months” before he was killed.

Munder worked at a paint factory on the kibbutz and will be remembered as “a very warm person who loved singing,” the statement said.

“Abraham had a special sense of humor and was full of pride in his family,” said the head of the Eshkol Regional Council, Gadi Yarkoni.

“For more than 10 months our sons and daughters have been abandoned in captivity. Every day that passes is a real danger to the lives of the hostages,” Yarkoni continued.

“How many such terrible proofs will we have to accept? In these critical days, we turn to the decision-makers and demand unequivocally – a deal now! This is the supreme mission to return the lives for restoration and the spaces for burial in Israel. We have no time to waste.”

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum concurred, stating: “The Israeli government, with the help of the mediators, must do everything to sign the deal that is now on the table.”

“The recovery of the bodies of Avraham, Alex, Haim, Yagev, Yoram and Nadav is an important process that allows their families a necessary closing of the circle and for the murdered, eternal rest.”

“The State of Israel has a moral and ethical obligation to return all of the murdered for dignified burial, and all of the living hostages for rehabilitation – the immediate return of all 109 abductees will only be possible through a deal,” the forum said.