'Sorrow and immense pain': Israeli politicians react to recovery of Gaza hostage bodies

Israeli politicians and leaders reacted on Tuesday to the joint IDF and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) operation that saw the military retrieve the bodies of hostages Nadav Popplewell, Yagev Buchshtab, Yoram Metzger, Haim Peri, Alexander Dancyg, and Avraham Munder from the Khan Yunis area in the Gaza Strip.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, "Tonight, our forces returned the bodies of six of our hostages who were held by the murderous terrorist organization Hamas.

"Our hearts ache for the terrible loss. My wife Sarah and I send our condolences from the bottom of our hearts to the families," Netanyahu added. 

He thanked the IDF and Shin Bet for their joint operation and affirmed Israel would continue to act to return the hostages. 

British Ambassador to Israel Simon Walters commented on the recovery of the six bodies, including Popplewell who held UK citizenship, saying "It is with deep sadness that I heard the news that the bodies of six hostageswere recovered tonight, some of whom were considered alive until now.

"I send my sincere condolences to their families, including Nadav Popplewell, who was an Israeli with British citizenship." He added that "the suffering has lasted too long. Now is the time to reach a deal, return the hostages, and stop the fighting."

'We must not stop to return the hostages'

President Isaac Herzog wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter, "With great sorrow and immense pain, we send our heartfelt condolences and a warm embrace to the families, loved ones, and friends of the six hostages whose bodies were returned last night from Khan Yunis in a military operation."

With great sorrow and immense pain, we send our heartfelt condolences and a warm embrace to the families, loved ones, and friends of the six hostages whose bodies were returned last night from Khan Yunis in a military operation — Yagev Buchshtab, Alex Dancyg, Yoram Metzger,…

— יצחק הרצוג Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) August 20, 2024

"We must not stop for a moment from working in every way possible to bring back all the hostages — the living to their families and the dead to be laid to rest. This is Israel's highest moral duty," he added. 

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant shared "in the deep grief" of the hostages' families and said Israel "will continue working to achieve the goals of this war - returning the hostages to Israel and dismantling Hamas."

The IDF and ISA conducted a complex operation, entering Hamas tunnels in Khan Younis to rescue the bodies of hostages Yagev Buchshtab, Alexander Dancyg, Avraham Munder, Yoram Metzger, Nadav Popplewell, and Haim Perry- of blessed memory. I share in the deep grief of their… pic.twitter.com/pe7ymwivqR

— יואב גלנט - Yoav Gallant (@yoavgallant) August 20, 2024

Foreign Minister Israel Katz thanked the security forces for the operation and said he shared in the families' grief.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich noted the "professional and decisive operation conducted by the "excellent security forces," adding that Israel was obligated to end the war with "complete victory and the destruction of Hamas," along with returning all of the hostages.

השבנו הלילה בפעילות מקצועית ונחושה של כוחות הביטחון המצוינים שלנו את גופותיהם של חיים פרי הי"ד, יורם מצגר הי"ד, אברהם מונדר הי"ד נדב פופלוול הי"ד אלכסנדר דנציג הי"ד ויגב בוכשטב הי"ד שנחטפו ונרצחו על ידי המפלצות הנאציות של חמאס דעאש. הלב של כולנו כואב עם משפחותיהם וקהילותיהם.… pic.twitter.com/d6rfLomjYz

— בצלאל סמוטריץ' (@bezalelsm) August 20, 2024

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir wrote on X that the hostages "should be returned only by heavy military pressure, the cessation of fuel and humanitarian aid to terrorism and its supporters."

בבוקר קשה זה, ליבנו עם כאב המשפחות היקרות - פרי, מצגר, מונדר פופלוול, דנציג ובוכשטב, שיקיריהם הי״ד הוחזרו הלילה ע״י לוחמי צה״ל משבי החמאס. ליבי ולב כל עם ישראל עימם בשעה זו.את החטופים החיים ואלו שאינם, יש להשיב רק על-ידי לחץ צבאי עצים, הפסקת הדלק וההומניטרי לטרור ולתומכיו, ולא… pic.twitter.com/w27i59dYf0

— איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) August 20, 2024

Opposition leader Yair Lapid wrote it was a "difficult morning with difficult news" and sent his condolences "to the families and everyone in Nir Oz and Nirim." 

בוקר קשה עם בשורות כואבות, גופותיהם של אברהם מונדר, חיים פרי ויורם מצגר מניר עוז, נדב פופלוול ויגב בוכטשב, מקיבוץ נירים, שנרצחו בשבי חולצו הלילה והובאו לישראל. אני שולח ניחומים מעומק הלב למשפחות ולכל בית ניר עוז ונירים. יהי זכרם ברוך. pic.twitter.com/cBKlT9Lv4k

— יאיר לפיד - Yair Lapid (@yairlapid) August 20, 2024

MK Benny Gantz shared in a post on X, "Six faces and names that this morning symbolize the hourglass that is running out, the magnitude of the responsibility to do everything to return the rest of the hostages home, and for those who are still alive to return alive."

Gantz also recounted his recent encounter with Avraham Munder's daughter, Keren. She "told me how much she awaits and worries for her father and that she is sure that when he returns, he will not stop worrying about all the other hostages and friends of Nir Oz."

רק לאחרונה נפגשתי עם קרן מונדר, שסיפרה לי כמה היא מחכה ודואגת לאבא אברהם, ועל כך שהיא בטוחה שכשישוב, לא יפסיק לדאוג לכל שאר החטופים והחברים מניר עוז. אברהם ז״ל כבר לא יגיע לכיכר החטופים, לא ישוב בחיים לחיק משפחתו, וכך גם חיים פרי, יורם מצגר, נדב פופלוול, אלכס דנציג ויגב בוכשטב… pic.twitter.com/NYbXnJQTBR

— בני גנץ - Benny Gantz (@gantzbe) August 20, 2024

Gantz added that "Avraham will no longer get to Hostages Square and will not return alive to his family, and neither will Haim Peri, Yoram Metzger, Nadav Popplewell, Alexander Dancyg, and Yagev Buchshtab."

National Unity leader Gideon Sa'ar congratulated "the IDF and the Shin Bet for the important moral operation that expresses the deep commitment to bringing the bodies of the hostages for burial in Israel."

לבי עם משפחותיהם של חיים פרי, יורם מצגר, אברהם מונדר, נדב פופלוול, אלכסנדר דנציג ויגב בוכשטב זכרונם לברכה ועם קהילות ניר-עוז ונירים. איתכם בכאבכם ובאבלכם. יהי זכרם ברוך. מברך את צה״ל ואת השב״כ על המבצע הערכי החשוב שמבטא את המחויבות העמוקה להבאת החטופים החללים לקבר ישראל. pic.twitter.com/SbwucHXkPB

— Gideon Sa'ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) August 20, 2024