Israeli army finds bodies of three more hostages in Gaza Strip

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The bodies of three more hostages killed on Oct. 7 were recovered from Gaza overnight, the Israeli army said Friday.

The bodies of Hanan Yablonka, Michel Nisenbaum and Orion Hernandez were found and their families notified. The army said they were killed at the Mefalsim junction on the day of the attack and their bodies were taken to Gaza.

The announcement comes less than a week after the army said it had found the bodies of three more Israeli hostages killed on October 7.

In the October 7 attack, Hamas-led militants killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted around 250 others. About half of those hostages have since been released, most in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel during a week-long ceasefire in November.

According to Israel, about 100 hostages are still being held in Gaza and about 30 more bodies are still lying in prison.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised to destroy Hamas and release all hostages, but he has made little progress. He is under pressure to resign and the US has threatened to reduce its support because of the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

The Israelis are divided into two camps: some want the government to stop the war and release the hostages, while others believe that the hostages are a regrettable price to pay for the elimination of Hamas. The repeated negotiations mediated by Qatar, the USA and Egypt have achieved little.

Anger is growing at home over the government’s handling of the hostage-taking.

Earlier this week, a group representing the hostages’ families released new video footage showing the capture of five female Israeli soldiers by Hamas on October 7 near the Gaza border.

The video shows several of the young soldiers covered in blood and wounded. In one scene, a militant tells one of the frightened women that she is beautiful.

The video sparked further protests across the country demanding the release of the hostages.