The IDF spokesperson released footage tonight (Tuesday) from a tunnel in the city of Rafah in Gaza, where the bodies of six Israeli hostages were found. These shocking discoveries were made during an extensive military operation in Rafah, which has been ongoing for more than three months.
πππππππππ π ππππππ: IDF Spokesperson, RAdm. Daniel Hagari, reveals the underground terrorist tunnel where Hersh, Eden, Carmel, Ori, Alex and Almog were held in brutal conditions and murdered by Hamas. pic.twitter.com/edlfi4lR8U
β Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) September 10, 2024
The tunnel, measuring between 394 and 427 feet in length, was located in the Tel Sultan neighborhood, a central hub for Hamas's Rafah Brigade activities. Following an initial IDF investigation, based on underground scene examinations and pathological analysis of the bodies, it appears that the tunnel where the hostages were held originated from a house β with the shaft leading to it hidden beneath the floor of a children's room.
Forces had to break through the floor to reach the shaft and then trace the tunnel's path at a depth of about 66 feet. Analysis of the tunnel reveals that it was used for underground movement between Hamas's combat zones, as explained in the footage by IDF Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari. He demonstrated how it is impossible to fully stand in the tunnel. The findings further suggest that two terrorists likely shot the six hostages to death between Thursday and Friday, then exited through a blast door, locking it behind them.
Hagari, out of breath due to lack of oxygen in the tunnel, emphasized the harsh conditions the hostages had to endure. He pointed at numerous bloodstains found in the tunnel. It is now being examined whether some of these, along with additional DNA evidence, belong to two Hamas terrorists who were killed in the same area in two separate encounters a few days later.
The metal blast door, which soldiers forcibly removed upon arrival, had been locked, trapping the hostages in the tunnel during their captivity. Based on the dry food, limited water found in the tunnel, urine bottles, and an absorption pit used by the hostages as a toilet, the military estimates that the hostages were held there for at least several weeks, and had likely been moved from place to place before that, possibly from the Khan Yunis area.
Additional evidence of prolonged stay was found inside the tunnel, including mattresses and Hamas weapons. Assessments indicate that the hostages were held in the location for at least one to two weeks under harsh living conditions and malnutrition.
Video: The tunnel where the hostages were held, hidden beneath the floor of a children's room. Credit: IDF Spokesperson's Unit
The tragic sequence of events began on Tuesday when hostage Farhan Al-Qadi was rescued alive from an area near the tunnel. However, it appears Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Eden Yerushalmi, Ori Danino, Almog Sarusi, Carmel Gat, and Alex Lobanov were murdered by their captors on Thursday.
It was further revealed that the tunnel where Farhan was held was about 2,297 feet away from the tunnel of the six hostages, but there was a blockage between the two tunnels. It is still unclear whether this was caused by IDF activity in the area or by a deliberate collapse by Hamas terrorists.
On Friday, the shaft leading to the tunnel was located, and between Saturday and Sunday, the bodies were removed. The distance between Farhan's rescue point and the location of the bodies was about 2,297 feet, although the underground distance may be shorter.
The IDF provided the documentation to the families of the murdered hostages at their request, with some of the findings presented to the public tonight. This tragic event highlights the complexity and enormous challenges in combating underground terrorism in the Gaza Strip.
