Autopsy Finds Six Hostages Were Shot Multiple Times at Close Range Between Thursday and Friday

The six dead hostages recovered from the Gaza Strip over the weekend were killed 48 to 72 hours before their autopsy, meaning between Thursday and Friday morning, the Health Ministry said on Sunday, September 1.

The ministry added that an examination carried out by Abu Kabir Forensic Institute found that all six hostages were shot multiple times from close range, indicating they were executed.

The IDF had said that Hamas terrorists murdered the hostages relatively shortly before troops located their bodies on Saturday afternoon in a tunnel in Rafah.

The hostages brought back were Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, Eden Yerushalmi, 24, Ori Danino, 25, Alex Lobanov, 32, Carmel Gat, 40, and Almog Sarusi, 27.

Israeli media reported that security officials fear that Hamas executed the six hostages due to the terror group’s concerns that a hostage, Farhan al-Qadi, who was rescued alive from a nearby tunnel last week would divulge details about where the other captives were being held.

“Their bodies were found during the fighting in Rafah, in a tunnel, about a kilometer away from the tunnel from which we rescued Farhan al-Qadi a few days ago,” IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said. (TOI / VFI News)

“Our Heavenly Father, we pray for the families of the six hostages who were brutally murdered by Hamas and we send our sincerest condolences to them. We pray that You comfort them and help them recover in time, mentally and emotionally. We pray for everyone who is affected by their loss and we continue to fervently pray for all the hostages who remain captive, that they will be released or rescued soon in Yeshua’s name. May You bring them out of their captivity and restore everything they lost, according to Your Will.”

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