Israel-Hamas struggle stay updates: Netanyahu faces cease-fire stress after Israel discovers our bodies of six hostages in Gaza

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin ordered the state’s flags be flown at half-staff in honor of Hersh Goldberg-Polin.

“Suzanne and I are angered and heartbroken by the loss of life of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a mindless homicide by the hands of terrorists,” Youngkin mentioned. “Immediately, Virginians, People, and the world be part of the Goldberg-Polin household and the Keneseth Beth Israel Synagogue in prayer.”

Palestinian lawmaker Mustafa Barghouti says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his ‘extremist’ authorities are chargeable for “the escalation of the harmful scenario and the killing of Israeli prisoners.”

In a post on X, he blamed Netanyahu for refusing to a cease-fire and increasing the struggle within the West Financial institution.

“Netanyahu doesn’t care in regards to the lives of anybody, together with Israeli prisoners, and his solely concern is saving himself from accountability,” he mentioned.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apologized to the household of Alexander Lobanov for not bringing him and the opposite 5 hostages again alive, in line with a press release from the prime minister’s workplace.

Lobanov, 32, can be buried in Ashkelon this afternoon. He’s survived by his dad and mom, spouse and two kids, one in all whom was born whereas he was in captivity. Lobanov was working as a bar supervisor on the Supernova music pageant, in line with the Hostages and Lacking Households Discussion board. He had helped evacuate individuals and ran with 5 others to the Be’eri forest, the place he was captured.

In keeping with the prime minister’s workplace Netanyahu will communicate with the households of different hostages at the moment.

Docs with out Borders says solely 16 out of 36 hospitals are nonetheless functioning in Gaza.

It mentioned Al-Aqsa hospital was beneath risk of assault, and known as on “all events to guard the final remaining hospitals.”

A polio vaccination marketing campaign started at the moment in central Gaza, with a uncommon pause in combating amid fears that the illness might unfold past the enclave.

24 individuals have been killed within the occupied West Financial institution since Israel started its assault on the town of Jenin, in line with Palestinian well being officers.

The IDF launched a sweeping army operation Wednesday, finishing up airstrikes and lethal raids and sealing off the town of Jenin.

Of the Palestinians reported useless since Wednesday, Hamas and its ally Islamic Jihad have mentioned no less than 14 have been members of their armed wings.

Three Israeli law enforcement officials have been additionally killed in a capturing at a checkpoint in Hebron on Sunday.

Aviva Siegel, who was taken hostage by Hamas and launched in November after 51 days in captivity, known as for an finish to the combating and a deal that might carry the remaining hostages dwelling.

In an interview with NBC Information, she mentioned her coronary heart was “damaged into items” following the restoration of the our bodies of six hostages from Gaza on Saturday.

“We want them dwelling, we’d like them dwelling now as fast as attainable,” she mentioned.

“Cease combating, wars aren’t good for anyone. Individuals should not be useless. You solely get one likelihood to stay. It must cease instantly to carry the hostages dwelling. A deal is the one method to get them dwelling safely.”

“They should come dwelling alive as quickly as attainable earlier than we get extra useless our bodies dwelling.”

Israel’s far-right Minister of Nationwide Safety, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has repeated requires the federal government to not enter right into a take care of Hamas that might see the discharge of Palestinian prisoners or sacrifice management of the Philadelphi hall.

Ben-Gvir’s place stands in opposition to a spherical of contemporary calls from some ministers and hostage households for a cease-fire deal that might rescue the remaining hostages, after six have been recovered useless from Gaza final night time.

“Those that demand the discharge of 1000’s of terrorists and provides Hamas management over the Philadelphia axis are deliberately abandoning the safety of Israel’s residents,” he mentioned. “The blood of the subsequent murdered can be by his palms.”

Israeli Protection Minister Yoav Gallant known as on the Israeli parliament to reverse a choice made Thursday that calls for the Israel Protection Forces keep a army presence within the Philadelphi Hall as a part of any cease-fire or hostage launch deal.

Netanyahu’s insistence that the IDF keep within the hall has impeded current cease-fire talks, and Thursday’s vote drew outrage from the Hostages and Lacking Households Discussion board.

Forward of the vote, local news outlets reported battle between Gallant and Netanyahu over the impression the Philadelphi Hall choice would have on hostages.

“The political-security cupboard should convene instantly and reverse the choice made on Thursday,” Gallant, who voted in opposition to the unique choice, posted on X.

“It’s too late for the abductees who have been murdered in chilly blood. The abductees who stay within the captivity of Hamas have to be returned dwelling.”

The Hostages Households and Lacking Households discussion board is organizing protests in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv in Sunday, after the restoration of six hostages final night time added urgency to requires a deal what might save the remaining captives.

It mentioned the primary protest will happen at 4 p.m. native time in Jerusalem on the joint sq., with one other “large” protest going down at 7 p.m. at Start Gate in Tel Aviv.

Daniel Lifshitz, grandson of hostage Oded Lifshitz, mentioned they have been protesting to stress their authorities to “seal the deal,” in reference to a cease-fire deal that might see the remaining hostages returned to Israel.

“That is what we have now requested for,” he mentioned. “That’s what our demand is.”

Gil Dickmann accused the ultranationalist finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, of sabotaging a cease-fire deal that might have led to the discharge of his cousin, Carmel Gat, whose physique was recovered from Gaza yesterday.

Smotrich, chairman of the far-right Non secular Zionist Celebration, objected to a plan offered by President Joe Biden in Could that aimed to finish the struggle in Gaza and return all hostages.

Dickmann slammed Smotrich on X for posting an image of his cousin Carmel Gat among the many others whose our bodies have been discovered.

“You foiled the deal that might carry her dwelling. You have been happy with it. You mentioned that bringing them dwelling ‘isn’t crucial factor.’

And now they’re useless.

Don’t speak about ‘dancing on the blood’.

“In the event you had an oz. of duty and respect for the human life you wasted, you’ll be ashamed to publish her image this morning.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned he’s mourning for the hostages whose our bodies have been recovered from Gaza, and accused Hamas of “unimaginable cruelty.”

“Together with all of the residents of Israel, I used to be shocked to the depths of my soul by the horrible cold-blooded homicide of six of our abductees,” he mentioned.

“I say to the Hamas terrorists who murdered our abductees and I say to their leaders — your blood is in your head. We won’t relaxation and we won’t be silent. We’ll pursue you, we are going to meet up with you and we are going to carry you to account.

He went on to accuse Hamas of refusing to conduct cease-fire negotiations. Either side have repeatedly accused the opposite of obstructing a deal.

The “humanitarian pauses” to permit a mass polio vaccination marketing campaign has begun at the moment in central Gaza as assist teams work to forestall an outbreak of the virus.

Israel and Hamas agreed to three separate three-day pauses in combating, beginning Sunday in central Gaza, to permit for the vaccination of some 640,000 children in opposition to polio amid fears that the outbreak of the doubtless deadly virus might unfold past the territory.

In a post on X, Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner basic for UNWRA, known as on either side to respect the momentary pauses in combating.

Israeli opposition chief Yair Lapid has known as on the pinnacle of the Israeli parliament to convene the Knesset “as early as tomorrow” to debate a deal to launch the remaining hostages and “save the abductees who’re nonetheless alive.”

“We’ve no time to waste,” he mentioned in a post on X. “Their deaths might have been prevented. It was attainable to succeed in a deal. There’s a majority for such a deal within the individuals, there’s a majority for such a deal within the Knesset.”

The our bodies of the six hostages are nonetheless being examined and the IDF is just not but able to say precisely how and once they have been killed, Lt Col Nadav Shoshani, an IDF spokesman, informed reporters on Sunday. 

The IDF has mentioned the hostages “have been brutally murdered by Hamas terrorists shortly earlier than we reached them” in a tunnel in Rafah.

However Shoshani was not in a position to say if the hostages have been killed by gunfire or what time they have been killed. He did say there was no change of gunfire between IDF troops and Hamas fighters within the tunnel, so the IDF was assured they weren’t unintentionally killed by the advancing Israeli troopers.

Gil Dickmann posted an emotional tribute to his cousin Carmel Gat, whose physique was recovered from Gaza yesterday.

“Sorry, Carmeli. Sorry we didn’t cease when it was nonetheless attainable. Sorry we allow them to kill you.

I want you noticed and heard us. I want that despite the fact that you noticed with your individual eyes the horrible homicide of Mom Kinneret, you found that your father Eshel and your brother Alon and Or, your sister-in-law Yarden and your niece Gefen, survived. I want you noticed how your girlfriends fought to get you again alive.

I want you hadn’t heard the prime minister say that the Philadelphia axis is extra necessary than your life and the lives of the opposite abductees. I can solely think about how a lot rage that crammed you.

Izzat Al-Rishq, a member of Hamas’ political wing, has blamed Israel for the deaths of the hostages, accusing its authorities of evading a cease-fire settlement.

“The one who bears duty for the loss of life of prisoners held by the resistance is the occupation, which insists on persevering with the struggle of genocide and evading reaching a ceasefire settlement, and the American administration as a result of its bias, help and partnership on this aggression,” Al-Rishq mentioned in a press release.

Each Israel and Hamas have constantly accused one another of obstructing a cease-fire deal as mediators attempt to attain a breakthrough.

Almost 11 months after he was taken hostage by Hamas, Israeli American Hersh Goldberg-Polin was discovered useless in Gaza.

President Joe Biden mentioned Saturday night time that Goldberg-Polin was amongst six hostages held by Hamas whose our bodies recovered in a tunnel beneath Rafah. The Israel Protection Forces mentioned Hamas killed the six shortly earlier than Israeli forces reached them.

“Hersh was among the many innocents brutally attacked whereas attending a music pageant for peace in Israel on October 7,” Biden mentioned. “He misplaced his arm serving to buddies and strangers throughout Hamas’ savage bloodbath. He had simply turned 23. He deliberate to journey the world.”

Goldberg-Polin was an older brother to 2 sisters and a fan of the Hapoel Jerusalem basketball crew. He was born in the US and moved to Israel along with his household when he was 7, the Hostages Households Discussion board Headquarters mentioned.

Goldberg-Polin’s parents have been outspoken of their efforts to carry dwelling their son and the opposite hostages, launching a social media marketing campaign and making common media appearances. They, together with the households of different hostages, have relentlessly urged Netanyahu and the Israeli authorities, in addition to the worldwide neighborhood, to concentrate on the plight of their family members.

Read the full story here.

The Hostage and Lacking Households Discussion board urged the Israeli public to organize for protests in a post on X Saturday night time.

“Netanyahu deserted the abductees! That is now a truth,” it mentioned. “Beginning tomorrow the nation will tremble.”

The publish goes on to say that additional particulars can be despatched Sunday morning.

The our bodies of the six hostages have been present in an underground tunnel throughout combating in Rafah, Israel Protection Forces spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari mentioned at the moment.

They have been situated lower than a mile from the tunnel the place Frhan Alkadi, one other hostage, was rescued earlier this week, Hagari mentioned. On the time, combating was happening above floor between Israeli forces and Hamas fighters, he mentioned.

“In keeping with our preliminary evaluation, they have been brutally murdered by Hamas terrorists shortly earlier than we reached them,” Hagari mentioned.

In Saturday night time statements, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris mourned the loss of life of American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, emphasizing that their prayers are along with his family members.

“I’ve labored tirelessly to carry their beloved Hersh safely to them and am heartbroken by the information of his loss of life. It’s as tragic as it’s reprehensible,” Biden mentioned in his assertion.

Harris strongly condemned Hamas as nicely, calling it “an evil terrorist group” and emphasizing that it now has “much more American blood on its palms.”

“The risk Hamas poses to the individuals of Israel—and Americans in Israel—have to be eradicated and Hamas can’t management Gaza,” she mentioned within the assertion, which was made in her official capability as vp, not her presidential marketing campaign.

Reactions from lawmakers additionally started rolling in, with members of Congress sharing that they have been “heartbroken” and grieving with the households of the hostages.

Present extra

Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli American taken hostage within the Oct. 7 Hamas terror assaults, is amongst six hostages whose our bodies have been recovered Saturday.

“With damaged hearts, the Goldberg-Polin household is devastated to announce the loss of life of their beloved son and brother, Hersh. The household thanks you all to your love and help and asks for privateness presently,” a household consultant mentioned.

President Joe Biden mentioned the our bodies of Goldberg-Polin and 5 different hostages held by Hamas have been recovered in a tunnel beneath Rafah.

“I’m devastated and outraged,” Biden mentioned within the assertion.

Read the full story here.

The IDF confirmed in a press release that they and Shin Wager, the nation’s home safety company, recovered the our bodies of six hostages from a tunnel close to Rafah.

The IDF confirmed the identities of the hostages as Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi and Grasp Sgt. Ori Danino. The hostages have been “murdered by the Hamas terrorist group within the Gaza Strip,” the IDF mentioned.

“Following an identification process carried out by the Nationwide Institute of Forensic Medication, the Israel Police, and the IDF Army Rabbinate, the IDF Manpower Directorate’s Hostage crew, which is chargeable for accompanying the households of the hostages, notified their households,” the IDF assertion mentioned. “The IDF and ISA ship their heartfelt condolences to the households.”