Body of British Israeli hostage among six recovered from Gaza
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The body of a British Israeli hostage is among six that have been recovered from Gaza, the Israeli military confirmed on Tuesday.
The military said in a statement that its forces recovered the bodies in an overnight operation in southern Gaza.
It identified the hostages as Nadav Popplewell, a British Israeli, and Yagev Buchshtab, Alexander Dancyg, Avraham Munder, Yoram Metzger, and Haim Perry.
The recovery came as the the United States, Egypt and Qatar are trying to mediate a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas that would see the release of scores of hostages held by the militant group.
In May, Hamas released a video saying that Mr Popplewell, who was taken hostage during its October 7 attack on Israel, died after being wounded in an Israeli airstrike in April.
Mr Popplewell was captured with his mother from her home in Kibbutz Nirim, according to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.
His brother was killed during the attack. His mother was released during a temporary ceasefire in November.
The campaign group described him as “generous and kind” and an avid reader of science fiction novels.
A statement from the Hostages Families Forum said: “The recovery of the bodies of Abraham, Alex, Chaim, Yagev, Yoram, and Nadav crucially provides their families with necessary closure and grants eternal rest to the murdered.
“Israel has a moral and ethical obligation to return all the murdered for dignified burial and to bring all living hostages home for rehabilitation.
“The immediate return of the remaining 109 hostages can only be achieved through a negotiated deal. The Israeli government, with the assistance of mediators, must do everything in its power to finalize the deal currently on the table.”
Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said :“Overnight our forces returned the bodies of six of our hostages that had been held by the murderous Hamas terrorist organization: Avraham Munder, Alex Dancyg, Chaim Peri, Yagev Buchshtav, Yoram Metzger and Nadav Popplewell – of blessed memory.
“Our hearts grieve over the terrible loss. My wife Sara and I convey our heartfelt condolences to the dear families.I would like to thank the brave IDF and ISA fighters and commanders for their heroism and determined action.
“The State of Israel will continue to make every effort to return all of our hostages – the living and the deceased.”
This is a breaking news story, more to come…
