IDF announce deaths of four hostages in Hamas captivity
Their murder is a sad reflection on the significance of delaying deals, Hostage Forum says.
The IDF on Monday night confirmed the death of four additional hostages from the remaining group which Hamas seized on October 7.
The four are Haim Perry and Yoram Metzger, age 80, and Amiram Cooper, age 84, all from Nir Oz, and Nadav Popplewell, age 51, from Nirim.
The announcement was based on intelligence and confirmed by a Health Ministry expert, in coordination with the Religious Services Ministry and the Chief Rabbi of Israel.According to the IDF, they were not killed on October 7, but rather afterward while being held in Gaza.
The military said that the four were killed in the Khan Yunis area a number of months ago.
The IDF further said that the four hostages were killed during a period when the it was carrying out operations in the area.
In addition, it said that this revelation would raise difficult questions about the circumstances of the hostages' death and that the military would continue to probe the issue.
Hamas had previously put out a video regarding the hostages, but the IDF said it would not declare the hostages as deceased until it had independent confirmation, as it does now.
Popplewell’s mother, Hannah Perry, was released on November 24; his brother Roee was murdered on October 7.
Metzger is survived by his wife, Tamar, three children, and seven grandchildren.
Cooper is survived by his wife, Nurit, age 79, three children, and nine grandchildren. His wife was held captive in Gaza for 17 days before she was released on October 23.
Perry was a husband, a father of five, a grandfather of 13, a peace activist, and an artist.
In light of the news, the Hostages & Missing Families Forum provided the following announcement:
"The heartbreak that comes with this painful news should shake every citizen in the State of Israel and lead every leader to profound soul-searching. Chaim, Yoram, Amiram, and Nadav were kidnapped alive, some of them were with other hostages who returned in the previous deal - and they should have returned alive to their country and their families!
"The Israeli government must send out a negotiating delegation this evening and return all 124 hostages, both living and murdered, to their homes," the forum said. "It is time to end this cycle of sacrifice and neglect. Their murder in captivity is a mark of disgrace and a sad reflection on the significance of delaying previous deals. We reiterate our demand to the Israeli government: Approve the Netanyahu deal immediately!"
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