6 hostages 'brutally murdered' shortly before discovery, IDF says
The six hostages whose bodies were recovered Saturday in Gaza appeared to have died "shortly before" they were found, the Israeli military said Sunday.
"According to the initial assessment we have, they were brutally murdered by Hamas terrorists shortly before we reached them," Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, an Israel Defense Forces spokesperson, said on Sunday.
The bodies were discovered in a tunnel in Rafah, the densely populated border city in southern Gaza, Hagari said. They were found about a kilometer from where Farhan Al-Qadi, another hostage, was rescued days earlier, he added.
"Since the location of Farhan Al-Qadi, the forces have been given emphasis on careful and controlled action, even more than usual, with the understanding that there may be other abductees in the area," Hagari said. "We did not have information about the exact location of the abductees."
Fighting between Israel and Hamas had been ongoing on Saturday above ground in the area where the bodies were discovered, he said.
The families of hostages released on Sunday a statement mourning the dead and condemning the Israeli politicians who they said they believe are slow-walking and blocking a cease-fire and hostage-return deal.
"A deal for the return of the hostages has been on the table for over two months," the statement said. "Were it not for the delays, sabotage, and excuses those whose deaths we learned about this morning would likely still be alive."
-ABC News' Jordana Miller, Anna Burd, Victoria Beaule and Kevin Shalvey