IDF reveals: Slain hostages were found in Gaza tunnel near children's yard

The IDF found the shaft to the tunnel in which the bodies of the hostages Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Eden Yerushalmi, Carmel Gat, Almog Sarusi, Alexander Lobanov, and Ori Danino, were found Saturday in a children's yard, the IDF reported on Wednesday. 

In a published video, a soldier explained that the IDF received clear intelligence about the location of the tunnel shaft, leading the IDF to operate in that precise location.

"As you can see, the tunnel was hidden in a child's yard, a place where a child should be safe, and not used as a human shield for Hamas," the soldier said in the video.

The IDF's 162nd Division and the Shin Bet located the shaft in a children's yard, in a civilian area filled with traps. 

The IDF stated, "This is another example of Hamas's cynical use of civilian space for terrorist activity."

מתחת לחצר ילדים ולצד בובות: תיעוד פיר המנהרה שבה אותרו גופות 6 החטופים שחולצו בסוף השבוע@Doron_Kadosh pic.twitter.com/OhR67iYoLr

— גלצ (@GLZRadio) September 4, 2024

Details of the operation

The IDF retrieved the bodies of the hostages from a tunnel under the city of Rafah in Gaza. They were likely slaughtered by Hamas shortly before the IDF got to them in Rafah.

The bodies were found only one kilometer from where Kaid Farhan al-Alkadi, age 52, from Rahat, was found last week. Since Alkadi was found, the IDF put out instructions to be extra careful in the area, but it is possible that Hamas killed the six, knowing that the military was close by and that the hostages might be taken by the IDF alive.

Yonah Jeremy Bob contributed to this report.