Six Murdered Hostages Could Not Stand up, Had Trouble Breathing, and Were Starved

In a heart-wrenching tale of endurance and tragedy, the families of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Eden Yerushalmi, Uri Danino, Almog Sarusi, Carmel Gat, and Alex Lobanov received a grim report from the IDF about their loved ones’ ordeal and ultimate murder in a tunnel in Rafah. 

According to the findings of the National Center of Forensic Medicine (Abu Kabir), these hostages were brutally murdered roughly 24 hours before IDF reached the site. 

Their bodies bore gunshot wounds and clear signs of severe neglect. It was evident that they hadn’t bathed for an extended period, and one victim had marks indicating they had been bound. 

Additionally, there were traces of earlier injuries sustained during their initial capture, which had been treated over time. 

The bodies of the six were not found lying side by side but scattered in clusters throughout the tunnel. It remains unclear whether any struggle occurred before the captors executed them. A report by an Israeli broadcasting network revealed the hostages were confined in an exceedingly narrow and cramped tunnel. 

Standing upright was a struggle and only two of them could lie down across its width at any given time. The tunnel lacked air vents, making breathing difficult. The captives had no access to toilets or showers, relying on water bottles for both drinking and rudimentary washing. (Ynet / VFI News)

“Abba Father, we come to You with a grieving heart to ask that You protect the remaining hostages from all pain. We pray fervently for their physical and emotional health and we ask that You shield them from any abuse and malnutrition in Yeshua’s name. We pray that You strengthen the families of all hostages, former and current, comfort them, give them Your peace that transcends all understanding, and become their refuge during this agonizing time.”