On Monday, Hamas, the terror organization controlling Gaza, released a video showcasing statements from hostages who were later found dead in a tunnel in Rafah, having been murdered by Hamas operatives. Israel Hayom has made the editorial decision not to broadcast the video, refusing to participate in Hamas's psychological warfare tactics.
The footage features Eden Yerushalmi, Ori Danino, and Almog Sarusi, introducing themselves. Also appearing in the video are Carmel Gat, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, and Alexander Lobanov, 32, from Ashkelon. On Sunday morning, all six were announced dead, triggering nationwide mourning.
Hamas also said it will soon release the hostages' final messages. In the current video, the captives only provide self-introductions. On Sunday morning, the families of the hostages announced the deaths of six captives in the Gaza Strip, mere hours after the IDF reported finding several bodies during an operational activity in the area.
Military sources indicate that the hostages were likely killed by Hamas terrorists several days before their bodies were discovered. IDF Spokesperson Daniel Hagari clarified that the retrieval of the hostages from a tunnel in Southern Gaza was not part of a failed rescue mission. He added that the bodies were found approximately 0.6 miles from the location where Qaid Farhan-Alkadi, a Bedouin from southern Israel, had been found alive days earlier.
