Israel Says Bodies of Six Hostages Found in Gaza Tunnel

Facts

• The Israel Defense Forces announced Sunday that its troops had recovered the bodies of six captives kidnapped alive by Hamas last October — including a dual US national — from a tunnel in southern Gaza.^[1]
• The army identified the hostages as Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Ori Danino, Eden Yerushalmi, Almog Sarusi, Alexander Lobanov, and Carmel Gat. Gat was abducted from Kibbutz Be'eri, while the remaining were abducted from the Nova music festival near Kibbutz Re'im.^[2]
• According to Israel's health ministry, the deceased were found with multiple gunshot wounds, reportedly in a 65-foot-deep tunnel. Citing the autopsies performed overnight, it said the hostages had been killed between Thursday and Friday morning, shortly before the arrival of Israeli forces.^[3][2]
• While the Israeli military claims that the hostages — found dead during an 'ongoing combat' in the southern Gaza city of Rafah — had been murdered by Hamas, the militant group alleged that they were killed in Israeli air strikes.^[4][5]
• After about 105 hostages were released in a deal with Hamas last November, Israel says 108 captives remain in Gaza, including 36 who are believed to be dead. The Israeli military has rescued eight hostages. In its Oct. 7 attack on Israel, Hamas had taken some 250 hostages.^[6][7]
• Following the discovery, thousands of Israelis took to the streets, calling for an immediate cease-fire. In a show of support for the demonstrators' message, Israel's largest trade union, the Histadrut, has called for a general strike on Monday.^[8]

Sources: ^[1]Washington Post, ^[2]Timesofisrael, ^[3]Nationalpost, ^[4]Al Jazeera, ^[5]Time, ^[6]Guardian, ^[7]Associated Press and ^[8]CBS.

Narratives

• Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by Jerusalem Post and Al Jazeera. The US and Israel are responsible for these deaths. The hostages died due to their refusal to end the 11-month war of genocide in the besieged enclave. If the US was so concerned about the hostages' safety, it should have pressured Tel Aviv to end its aggression. The hostages would still be alive if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had signed a cease-fire deal rather than abandon its people to avoid conflict with his far-right allies in government.
• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by BBC News and Washington Post. While Netanyahu and US Pres. Joe Biden are committed to freeing the remaining Israelis in Hamas' captivity, it's clear that the terrorists don't want real negotiations or a cease-fire. These deaths indicate that Hamas can't be talked into releasing its best remaining bargaining chips or pressured into ending its atrocities. Israel shouldn't rest until those responsible for the death of these hostages are brought to justice and pay for their crimes.

Predictions