Four people who were kidnapped by the terrorist organization Hamas on October 7 and then held as hostages in Gaza have been confirmed dead, according to Israel's military (IDF).
The individuals in question are three men in their 80s and one man in his 50s. IDF estimates that the four were together when they were killed in Khan Yunis a few months ago.
The cause of their deaths is unclear. Hamas claimed in May, without evidence, that the younger of the four, Nadav Popplewell, died after being injured in an Israeli air strike. IDF is investigating the cause of death.
The three older men – Amiram Cooper, Yoram Metzger, and Haim Peri – appeared in a video released by Hamas in December, where the three were shown to be alive but in captivity.
A Hamas-coordinated attack on Israel on October 7 killed around 1,200 people and took over 200 as hostages. The terrorist attack triggered the ongoing war in Gaza.
According to the Hamas-controlled authorities, over 36,000 people have died in Gaza since the start of the war.