The Israeli military announced on Tuesday that operations in southern Gaza likely influenced Hamas’s decision to execute six hostages in August. A military investigation concluded that Israeli ground operations in the Tel al-Sultan area, though carried out with caution, inadvertently influenced Hamas’s decision to kill the hostages. “The hostages were murdered by gunfire from Hamas terrorists while Israeli forces operated nearby,” the army said in a statement.
In late August, soldiers discovered the bodies of the six hostages in an underground shaft in Rafah. According to the military, the victims—Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi, and Ori Danino—were shot just before Israeli troops reached their location. At the time, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the killings, stating the hostages had been “executed” with gunshots “to the head.”
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, a campaign group advocating for the return of Israeli captives, responded by urging the government to expedite efforts to recover the remaining hostages. “The time has come to bring back all the hostages. We need a deal that ensures their return within a quick and predetermined timeframe,” the group stated.
Meanwhile, indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, have raised hopes for progress. Netanyahu’s office revealed that an Israeli delegation had returned from “significant” talks in Qatar aimed at securing a truce and the release of dozens of hostages still held in Gaza.
On Monday, Netanyahu informed parliament of “some progress” in the negotiations. His office later added that the Israeli negotiation team would conduct internal consultations before deciding on the next steps. Hamas and other Palestinian factions also reported advancements towards a ceasefire.
The ongoing conflict was triggered by Hamas’s unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, during which militants took 251 hostages. According to Israeli military figures, 96 of these individuals remain in Gaza, with 34 confirmed dead. The attack left 1,208 people dead, mostly civilians, based on an AFP tally of Israeli data.
Israel’s military response has led to extensive devastation in Gaza, with over 45,338 deaths reported by the Hamas-run health ministry. The United Nations has deemed these figures credible, noting that the majority of casualties are civilians.
Team BharatShakti (With inputs from Reuters)
