Israeli forces recovered the bodies of six hostages from an underground tunnel in Rafah in southern Gaza overnight Saturday.

The hostages were identified as Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, Eden Yerushalmi, 24, Almog Sarusi, 25, Alexander Lobanov, 32, Carmel Gat, 40, and Master Sgt. Ori Danino, 25.

“A few hours ago, we informed the families that the bodies of their loved ones had been located by Israel Defence Forces troops in a tunnel in Rafah. According to our initial assessment, they were brutally murdered by Hamas terrorists shortly before we reached them,” said IDF Spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari.

All six were kidnapped alive during the Hamas-led assault on the northwestern Negev on Oct. 7.

“I commend the IDF and [Israel Security Agency] for conducting a complex operation to retrieve the bodies of the hostages for burial in Israel,” said Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Sunday.

“They were held hostage by Hamas and murdered in cold blood. May their memory be a blessing,” he added.

The bodies were found less than a mile from the tunnel where Qaid Farhan Alkaldi, another hostage, was rescued on Tuesday, Hagari said.

At the time of the discovery, fighting was going on above ground between Israeli forces and Hamas fighters, he said.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said that “the heart of an entire nation is shattered to pieces with the news…. On behalf of the State of Israel, I embrace their families with all my heart, and apologise for failing to bring them home safely.

“We will continue to fight relentlessly against the criminal, terrorist organisation Hamas, which has once again proven there is no end to its willingness to commit murder and crimes against humanity,” he continued.

“The blood of our brothers cries out to us. Our sisters and brothers are still there enduring hell. The supreme covenant between the state and its citizens is to ensure their safety. We have the sacred and urgent mission to bring them home,” added Herzog.

Last month, the IDF and ISA recovered the bodies of six other hostages kidnapped on Oct. 7, from a tunnel in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.

The bodies of Avraham Munder, Yoram Metzger, Nadav Popplewell, Yagev Buchshtav, Chaim Peri and Alex Dancyg were located more than 10 months after the Hamas massacre.

On Tuesday, Israeli forces rescued a hostage alive from Hamas captivity in Gaza. Qaid Farhan Alkadi, 52, a father of 11 from the Bedouin city of Rahat in the Negev, was rescued from a tunnel in southern Gaza.

A day later, the IDF recovered the body of a soldier who was killed fighting Hamas terrorists during the Oct. 7 invasion.

At the request of the soldier’s family, his name has not yet been made public.