The military announced on Sunday that five Israeli hostages, previously held captive by Hamas, were recovered from an underground tunnel network in the northern Gaza Strip.
The military showcased footage of the underground space, including a white-tiled bathroom and workroom connected by dark concrete-lined passages.
The circumstances of their deaths remain unclear, with post-mortems pending, according to Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, the chief military spokesperson.
The three soldiers and two civilians were among 240 individuals taken back to Gaza by Hamas gunmen during the cross-border incident on October 7 that triggered the ongoing conflict.
Hamas had previously released a video showing three hostages alive in what seemed to be a confined, white-tiled, windowless bedroom, Reuters reported.
The Iranian-backed group blamed Israel for the deaths of three hostages, citing Israeli military actions.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced an intensification of operations in the almost 12-week-long war, expressing concern about the toll on Gaza civilians and the remaining 129 hostages.
Written by B.C. Begley
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