The bodies of the six hostages recovered by the IDF from Khan Younis in southern Gaza earlier this week bear the marks of gunshot wounds, according to initial autopsy findings released Thursday.
According to The Times of Israel, IDF representatives showed the findings from the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute to the families of Alex Dancyg, Yagev Buchshtav, Chaim Peri, Yoram Metzger, Nadav Popplewell, and Avraham Munder on Thursday morning.
The findings are initial, and the IDF and health officials have not yet released the exact causes of deaths.
Hebrew language media initially claimed that four of the hostages whose bodies were recovered had suffocated to death after the IDF started a fire in their vicinity while attacking a nearby Hamas target, and Israeli news outlet Ynet claimed that at least some of the deceased had been killed in an IDF operation six months ago.
On Tuesday, IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said: "The circumstances of their deaths are being investigated. When we summarise the findings we will present them to the families and then to the public.
"We know that the abductees were killed while our forces were in Khan Younis. The spaces were examined at the Forensic Medicine Institute, we will investigate and give an answer.”
He did not state whether they had been killed by Israeli forces.
The Abu Kabir Forensic Institute is also reportedly working to identify four more bodies found near the hostages, which are believed by the IDF to be those of terrorists. According to initial findings, there were no signs of gunshot wounds on their bodies.
During the IDF operation to retrieve the hostages’ bodies, fighters in the Paratroopers Brigade, 'Yahalom' Unit, and the 75th Battalion, along with ISA forces located a tunnel shaft leading to an underground tunnel route where the bodies of the hostages were discovered.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that every effort will continue to be made to return all of the abductees, both alive and dead.
“Our hearts grieve over the terrible loss. My wife Sara and I convey our heartfelt condolences to the dear families,” he said.
"I would like to thank the brave IDF and ISA fighters and commanders for their heroism and determined action.”
