A Dark Day

The bodies of 6 hostages recovered and brought back to Israel for burial.

This morning, under rainy and somber skies, we received heartbreaking news that deepened the collective grief of our nation. The IDF, in coordination with the ISA, located and recovered the bodies of six hostages —

Carmel Gat (39), Eden Yerushalmi (24), Hersh Goldberg-Polin (23), Alexander Lobanov (32), Almog Sarusi (26), and Ori Danino (25). 

Eden, Hersh, Alexander, Almog, and Ori were all abducted from the Nova Festival, a place of celebration that was tragically transformed into a site of terror.

Carmel was taken from her childhood home in Kibbutz Be'eri, a community that symbolizes the resilience and spirit of Israel. 

Each of these individuals was a world unto themselves, with unique lives and loved ones who now carry the unbearable weight of their loss.

The operation to recover their bodies took place whilst above ground combat was ongoing in the Rafah area. Our forces discovered them in a tunnel approximately one kilometer from where Farhan Alkadi was rescued just days earlier. 

Our initial assessment suggests that the hostages were murdered by Hamas terrorists shortly before our soldiers reached their location inside the tunnel.

After the recovery, the bodies were transported to Israeli territory, where they underwent a thorough identification process conducted by medical officials and the Lahav 443 Unit of the Israel Police. Once identification was confirmed, IDF representatives delivered the devastating news to the families of the hostages. 

Our hearts are with these families in their unimaginable grief. 

The suffering endured by the hostages during 331 days of captivity at the hands of Hamas, and the anguish their families have borne, is beyond words. This morning’s news has shaken us all.

This tragedy underscores the critical importance of the IDF’s relentless efforts to locate and rescue the remaining 101 hostages held captive by Hamas. 

We remain resolute in our mission to bring every one of them home.