The IDF and Shin Bet have retrieved the bodies of hostages Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi, and Staff Sergeant Ori Danino from a tunnel in Rafah. These individuals were abducted on October 7 and subsequently killed by Hamas in Gaza, either on the day of their recovery or in the days leading up to it.
Following an identification process conducted by the National Institute of Forensic Medicine, Israel Police, and the Military Rabbinate, the IDF's Personnel Division team responsible for liaising with hostage families delivered the tragic news to the bereaved.
Heartbreaking final communications from the victims have emerged. Yerushalmi made a frantic call to the police emergency hotline on October 7, pleading for assistance. Danino was recorded singing with his family during the Sukkot holiday, just days before his abduction. Goldberg-Polin was captured on video being taken from what became known as the "bunker of death" in Reim.
Video: Eden Yerushalmi made a frantic call to the police emergency hotline on October 7
Yerushalmi would have marked her 24th birthday on the first Saturday of her captivity. She had been planning to fly to Greece but was instead taken to Gaza from the Nova music festival in Reim. When the attack on the festival began early Saturday morning, She called her mother, Shirat, at 7:20 AM, crying out, "They're shooting at us." Her sister, Shai, took charge, and the two remained on the phone for four hours while she was on the run.
Video: Ori Danino was recorded singing with his family during the Sukkot holiday, just days before his abduction
Goldberg-Polin, a 23-year-old American-Israeli citizen at the time of his abduction, had attended the Nova festival with his close friend Aner Shapira, who was killed. Both sought refuge in the ill-fated shelter from which he was kidnapped. His hand was severed during the attack. On April 24, Hamas released a video of Goldberg-Polin in captivity, the first sign of life his family had received. About two months ago, his family permitted the release of footage documenting his abduction along with hostages Or Levy and Elia Cohen.
Danino was 24 years old when he was taken from the Nova music festival on October 7. He had initially escaped the festival area in Reim, but returned to help evacuate friends he had met at the party: Maya and Itai Regev, and Omer Shem-Tov. On their way out, they were shot at by attackers and abducted.
