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Photo:
Israeli hostages whose bodies were recovered by IDF. Published by Ynet, IMEMC News, and Haaretz.

Top row, left to right: Chaim Peri, Avraham Munder and Yagev Buchshtab. Bottom row: Alex Dancyg, Nadav Popplewell and Yoram Metzger. Published by Haaretz
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by IMEMC News
Aug 21, 2024

Israeli estimates regarding the circumstances of the death of five of the six captives, whose bodies were returned from Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, suggest that they died of asphyxiation inside a tunnel where they were held, as a result of an attack by the Israeli army.

Without accurate intelligence or direction from captured Palestinian fighters, four Israeli army teams searched the tunnel containing the bodies of hostages.

The entrance, situated more than 30 feet below the surface, was discovered within a few hours. In it were the bodies of Palestinian fighters, who presumably died as a result of extended exposure underground, and the bodies of six Israeli captives.

The six Israelis have been identified as Alex Dancyg, Yoram Metzger, Avraham Munder, Chaim Peri, Yagev Buchshtab, and Nadav Popplewell.

Israeli Ynet News “Yedioth Ahronoth” reported on its website (Ynet), that the attack was carried out by a force belonging to Brigade 98 in the Khan Younis area about half a year ago.

Ynet stated that the evidence found last night supports the hypothesis, which has not been definitively confirmed by the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute, which is working to determine the causes of death.

It added that “Unlike previous operations, this mission lacked precise intelligence on the location of the bodies and did not have the assistance of captured fighters to identify the tunnel entrances.”

Ynet also stated that the army found the bodies of several Palestinian fighters who died in the tunnel and added that the army believes the fighters may have perished due to guarding the hostages inside the tunnel for an extended period.

According to estimates, the captives suffocated due to a fire caused by an Israeli attack on a site near the tunnel, which led to a fatal leak of carbon dioxide into the tunnel, resulting in the death of the captives and their guards.

Earlier Tuesday, the Israeli army said it had made significant efforts to avoid targeting places where hostages might be suspected to be, whether alive or dead.

Ynet quoted military sources as saying: “We are in a dilemma regarding the destruction of tunnels, and we enter into confusion before dealing with any tunnel if there is a hidden exit leading to the hostages, as most of the tunnels in Gaza are interconnected.”

The sources emphasized that the occupation army “took additional precautions when information was obtained about the presence of hostages.”

Over recent months, the Israeli military has retrieved the remains of 18 hostages, predominantly from the areas of Jabalia and Khan Younis, in northern and southern Gaza, during four operations. Avraham Munder was the sole individual among those recovered whose fate remained unverified before this mission, as he was thought to be living.

Investigations by the military into how these deaths occurred are ongoing, examining whether they were casualties of the army’s operations or killed by their captors.

The investigations speculate that a number of the hostages may have perished due to Israel’s operations in the early part of January.

Since October 7, 2023, Israel has killed at least 40.173 Palestinians, including 16.365 children and 11.012 women, and injured more than 92.857, largely children, women, and elderly, in addition to the thousands who remain under the rubble, on destroyed streets and in bombarded alleys across the coastal enclave.
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Israeli Army: 'Indications of Gunshots' Found on Bodies of Six Hostages Retrieved From Gaza

The IDF noted that the findings are preliminary, and therefore it is not possible to determine the circumstances of the hostages' death

by Yaniv Kubovich and Bar Peleg for Haaretz
Aug 22, 2024

The Israeli army confirmed on Thursday that indications of gunshots were found on the bodies of the six hostages who were recovered on Tuesday from Khan Yunis in the Gaza Strip.

The army added that four bodies, seemingly of Hamas members, were found next to the hostages with no signs of gunfire.

The army handed over its findings to the families of Yoram Metzger, Chaim Peri, Nadav Popplewell, Yagev Buchstab, Avraham Munder and Alex Dancyg.

The army noted that the findings are preliminary, and therefore it is not possible to determine the circumstances of the hostages' deaths. The investigation is ongoing, and will be presented to their families and the public upon its completion.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said that the "presence of bullets in the bodies" of the hostages is "further proof of the cruelty of the terrorists who have been holding 109 hostages for 321 days."

"The retrieval of these six bodies is not a victory; it is a stark image of the complete failure of the country's leadership, as six hostages who were supposed to return alive have come back in coffins," the statement said.

The bodies were found in a joint operation using precise intelligence by members of the Paratroopers Brigade, Unit 504 (responsible for intelligence), the Combat Engineering Corps and the Shin Bet, as well as other troops.

No fighting took place during the operation. The assessment of defense officials is that the hostages were killed in the tunnel where their bodies were found, with their captors possibly having fled after Israeli strikes, leaving the hostages behind.

All the hostages were kidnapped alive on October 7. In December, Hamas released a video of Metzger and Peri who were seen being held captive alive. In May, Hamas aired a video of Popplewell who is seen with a severely bruised eye as he identifies himself by name.
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Bullet wounds in bodies of all 6 hostages from Gaza suggest they were killed by captors

Abu Kabir Forensic Institute provides initial autospy findings of bodies recovered by IDF in Khan Younis tunnel; bodies of terrorists found nearby also examined, no gunshot wounds

By Emanuel Fabian and Times of Israel (ToI) Staff
22 August 2024, 6:51 pm


The bodies of the six hostages recovered by the IDF from southern Gaza’s Khan Younis this week all have signs of gunshot wounds, according to initial autopsy findings released Thursday

IDF representatives showed the families of Alex Dancyg, Yagev Buchshtav, Chaim Peri, Yoram Metzger, Nadav Popplewell, and Avraham Munder the findings from the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute.

According to the institute’s report, the bodies of the six hostages all have signs of gunfire, likely indicating they were killed by their captors.


The bodies of the six hostages recovered by the IDF from southern Gaza’s Khan Younis this week all have signs of gunshot wounds, according to initial autopsy findings released Thursday

IDF representatives showed the families of Alex Dancyg, Yagev Buchshtav, Chaim Peri, Yoram Metzger, Nadav Popplewell, and Avraham Munder the findings from the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute.

According to the institute’s report, the bodies of the six hostages all have signs of gunfire, likely indicating they were killed by their captors.

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Channel 12 reported that the military believes that they were executed by their captors during an IDF operation near where they were being held, with their guards possibly believing a rescue operation was underway.

The findings are initial, and the IDF and health officials have not yet determined the exact causes of deaths.

The institute is also working to identify four more bodies found near the hostages, who are believed by the IDF to be terrorists. The institute’s preliminary investigation had found no signs of gunfire on any of those bodies.

The recovery operation took place overnight between Monday and Tuesday this week, amid a week-old operation in Khan Younis that was expanded last weekend.

The bodies were located in a 10-meter-deep tunnel shaft hidden behind a false wall.

The soldiers did not encounter any resistance inside the tunnel, though forces did kill several gunmen in the surrounding area, and some terror operatives guarding the tunnel fled as Israeli forces established control.

The troops found weapons on several dead terror operatives within a few hundred meters of the tunnel where the bodies were held, close to some of the shafts that led to the underground passages. Military sources said those gunmen were likely guarding the area of the tunnel.

In a statement on Thursday, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said the discovery of bullets in the hostages’ bodies was “further proof of the cruelty of the terrorists who have been holding 109 hostages for 321 days.

“In every minute that the deal is not completed, another hostage could lose their life. After ten and a half months of war in which the hostages have been suffering, tortured, and dying, it is clear to all that the return of the hostages is only possible through a deal,” the forum continued.

“The recovery of the six bodies is no achievement; it is a testimony of the complete failure to reach a deal in time, as six hostages who were supposed to return alive have returned in coffins,” it said.

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