The Israeli military has concluded that its ground operations in southern Gaza likely contributed to Hamas killing six hostages in August. This announcement comes as indirect talks between Israel and Hamas continue in Qatar, aimed at securing a truce and the release of dozens of hostages still held in Gaza and Israeli prisons.
The six hostages—Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi, and Ori Danino—were found dead in an underground shaft in Rafah in late August. Initially, the military stated they were executed just before Israeli forces reached the site.
A subsequent investigation revealed that Israeli troop movements in the Tel al-Sultan area had a circumstantial influence on Hamas’s decision to kill the hostages. The army clarified that all six were shot by Hamas militants.
In response, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum called for swift action to secure the release of all remaining captives. “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 said.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that an Israeli delegation had returned from a significant round of negotiations in Qatar. The talks, mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, have reignited hopes of reaching an agreement. Hamas and other Palestinian groups have also reported progress toward a potential ceasefire.
The recent war escalated with Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel on October 7, during which militants seized 251 hostages. To date, 96 hostages remain in Gaza, with 34 presumed dead, according to Israeli military figures.
Hamas’s attack resulted in 1,208 deaths, mostly civilians, according to Israeli authorities. Israel’s invasion and bombardment of Gaza have claimed the lives of at least 45,338 people, most of them civilians, according to Gaza’s health ministry figures, which are deemed reliable by the United Nations.
