Israel confirms deaths of 4 extra hostages, together with 3 older males seen in Hamas video

The Israeli navy on Monday confirmed the deaths of 4 extra hostages held by Hamas — together with three older males seen in a Hamas video begging for his or her launch.

The three males, Amiram Cooper, Yoram Metzger and Haim Peri, had been all age 80 or older. Trying weak and cautious, they appeared in a video in December launched by Hamas below the title, “Do not allow us to develop outdated right here.”

The fourth hostage was recognized as Nadav Popplewell.

Israel’s navy spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, mentioned the 4 males died collectively within the southern Gaza metropolis of Khan Younis when Israel was working there. The reason for demise was not instantly recognized.

“We’re checking all the choices,” Hagari mentioned. “There are a number of questions.”

Based on the Hostages and Lacking Households Discussion board, which represents households of the Israeli abductees, Cooper was 84, Metzger and Peri had been 80 and Popplewell was 51. 

The affirmation of their deaths got here lower than two weeks after Hagari issued a press release on social media saying that the our bodies of three hostages killed on October 7 — Hanan Yablonka, Michel Nisenbaum and Orion Hernandez Radoux — had been recovered and their households notified. They’re believed to have been killed on October 7 on the Mefalsim intersection and their our bodies taken into Gaza. 

Israel carried out a serious offensive in Khan Younis, a Hamas stronghold, early this 12 months.

Hamas claimed in Might that Popplewell had died after being wounded in an Israeli airstrike, however supplied no proof.

Cooper, Metzger and Peri had been featured in a Hamas propaganda video through which Peri, clearly below duress, mentioned within the video that every one three males had persistent sicknesses and accused Israel of abandoning them.

The deaths added to the rising listing of hostages who Israel says have died in captivity. On Oct. 7, Hamas took some 250 hostages again to Gaza. Roughly half had been launched throughout a short ceasefire interval in November. Of some 130 remaining within the strip, about 85 are believed to nonetheless be alive. 

The households of Israeli hostages held by Hamas referred to as over the weekend for all events to instantly settle for the three-phase deal outlined by President Biden Friday to finish the almost 8-month-long battle and produce their kin residence.

In a press release on Saturday, the workplace of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu referred to a everlasting cease-fire in Gaza as a “nonstarter” till long-standing circumstances for ending the battle are met, showing to undermine the deal Biden had introduced as an Israeli one.