Israeli military recovers 6 bodies of hostages from Gaza

The Israeli military announced on Tuesday morning that six hostages’ bodies were recovered from the Gaza Strip during an overnight operation.
The remains were found in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, and the families of the victims have been notified. Media reports indicate that five of the men were between 35 and 80 years old, with some having been previously declared dead by the army. It is reported that all were alive when abducted.

According to Israel, Hamas still holds 109 hostages, many of whom may no longer be alive. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is working to negotiate a ceasefire and the release of the hostages.

Israel has agreed to a U.S.-backed proposal for bridging gaps with Hamas, though Hamas has not yet accepted it. Since October 7, Hamas and other militants have taken 253 people from Israel into Gaza, with some freed through exchanges and a few rescued by the Israeli army, which has faced international criticism for its military actions affecting Palestinian civilians.