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Hostages Families Forum<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\nIsrael says its forces have recovered the bodies of six hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. <\/p>\n In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the bodies were located on Saturday in an underground tunnel in the Rafah area.<\/p>\n The IDF named the hostages as Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi and Master Sgt Ori Danino.<\/p>\n Spokesman Rear Adm Daniel Hagari said an initial assessment was they were “brutally murdered by Hamas terrorists shortly before we reached them”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would not rest until those responsible for their killing are brought to justice.<\/p>\n In a statement, he also said his government was committed to achieving a deal to release those remaining in captivity and protects the country’s security. <\/p>\n “Whoever murders hostages – does not want a deal,” he added.<\/p>\n A group representing the families of those held hostage in Gaza has demanded that Mr Netanyahu “address the nation and take responsibility for abandoning the hostages”.<\/p>\n The Hostages Families Forum said that all six held captive were “murdered in the last few days, after surviving almost 11 months of abuse, torture, and starvation in Hamas captivity”.<\/p>\n “The delay in signing the deal has led to their deaths and those of many other hostages,” they added in a statement.<\/p>\n The group has also announced plans to “bring the nation to a halt” on Sunday, asking the Israeli public to join protests in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and elsewhere in Israel to call for a hostage exchange deal.<\/p>\n In its statement on Sunday morning announcing the deaths, the IDF said the bodies had been “returned to Israeli territory”.<\/p>\n “They were all taken hostage on 7 October [2023] and were murdered by the Hamas terrorist organisation in the Gaza Strip.”<\/p>\n The statement added that their families had already been notified.<\/p>\n Israeli President Isaac Herzog said the “heart of an entire nation is shattered to pieces with the news” of their killing. <\/p>\n “On behalf of the State of Israel, I embrace their families with all my heart, and apologize for failing to bring them home safely,” he added.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Meanwhile, after the death of Mr Goldberg-Polin – an American citizen – was confirmed, US President Joe Biden said he was “devastated and outraged” by the news.<\/p>\n He said in a statement that “Hersh was among the innocents brutally attacked while attending a music festival for peace in Israel on 7 October”. <\/p>\n “He lost his arm helping friends and strangers during Hamas\u2019 savage massacre. He had just turned 23. He planned to travel the world. <\/p>\n “I have gotten to know his parents, Jon and Rachel. They have been courageous, wise, and steadfast, even as they have endured the unimaginable,” Mr Biden said.<\/p>\n The Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza to destroy Hamas in response to the unprecedented attack on southern Israel on 7 October, during which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.<\/p>\n More than 40,530 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.<\/p>\n US, Egyptian and Qatari mediators are trying to broker a ceasefire deal that would see Hamas release the 97 hostages still being held – including at least 33 who are presumed dead – in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.<\/p>\n