The Israeli army has announced that four of the remaining hostages who were kidnapped by Hamas during the October 7 terror attacks in southern Israel are now dead.
The four men were identified as Chaim Peri, 80, Yoram Metzger, 80, Amiram Cooper, 84, and Nadav Popplewell, 51. Three of them were filmed alive in hostage videos posted earlier by the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
Israel's military spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, said the military believes the hostages were killed "a number of months" ago "at the time IDF forces were operating in Khan Younis."
"We are thoroughly examining the circumstances of their deaths and checking all possibilities. We will present soon the findings, first to their families, and then to the public," Hagari said. "We will present them with transparency, as we have done until now."
Hamas claimed last month that Popplewell died after being wounded in an Israeli airstrike. It did not present any evidence for this claim. Hamas is classified as a terrorist organization by Israel, Germany, the EU, the US and other governments.
After the military's announcement, the Israeli grassroots group Hostages Forum called on the government to immediately approve the cease-fire plan outlined by US President Joe Biden last week.
"It is time to end this cycle of sacrifice and neglect," the group wrote in a statement. "Their murder in captivity is a mark of disgrace and a sad reflection on the significance of delaying previous deals."Around 80 hostages are believed to still be alive in Hamas captivity. (AFP, AP, Reuters, dpa)<>