Tue Dec 24 21:01:00 UTC 2024: **Israeli Military Actions Influenced Hamas Killing of Six Hostages: Investigation**
JERUSALEM (December 25, 2024) – An Israeli military investigation has revealed that Israeli military actions in Gaza, though described as gradual and cautious, played a circumstantial role in Hamas militants’ decision to kill six Israeli hostages in August. The hostages, including American-Israeli Hersh Goldberg-Polin, were found dead in September, sparking widespread protests in Israel.
The investigation, released on Tuesday, determined the hostages were murdered 48 to 72 hours before their bodies were discovered by Israeli forces. While the military lacked prior intelligence about the hostages’ location, their activities in the area indirectly influenced Hamas’ decision to execute them.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum stated that the findings reaffirm the need for a negotiated deal to secure the release of the remaining 100 hostages still held by Hamas. Following a week of intense negotiations in Qatar, an Israeli negotiation team is returning home for internal consultations on a potential hostage exchange. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that “some progress” has been made.
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