The IDF today (Wednesday) presented an investigation to the families of six hostages—Haim Peri, Yoram Metzger, Alex Danzig, Nadav Poplowell, Avraham Munder, and Yagav Buchstab—indicating that they were likely murdered following an IDF strike near their location. Although the news was known in August, the families received the official report today.
The military emphasized the uncertainty surrounding the incident, outlining two possible scenarios:
1. The more likely scenario is that the terrorists, alarmed by the approaching IDF strikes, panicked and executed the hostages before being killed themselves in the bombing.
2. The less likely scenario is that the hostages suffocated as a result of the bombing.
On August 20, it was cleared for publication that the bodies of hostages Haim Peri (80), Yoram Metzger (80), Yagav Buchstab (35), Nadav Poplowell (51), and Avraham Munder (79) were retrieved from a tunnel in the Hamed neighborhood of Khan Younis during a military operation by the IDF’s 98th Division. The operation took place about a month after the IDF and Shin Bet announced the retrieval of five hostages’ bodies in a special operation in Khan Younis.
Prime Minister’s Statement in August
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the recovery of the hostages’ bodies:
“Last night, our forces retrieved the bodies of six of our hostages held by the murderous Hamas organization: Avraham Munder, Alex Danzig, Haim Peri, Yagav Buchstab, Yoram Metzger, and Nadav Poplowell.
Our hearts ache over this devastating loss. My wife Sara and I extend our deepest condolences to the grieving families. I wish to thank the brave IDF soldiers and Shin Bet operatives for their courage and determination. The State of Israel will continue to make every effort to bring back all our hostages—both the living and the fallen.”
