The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released an investigation on Tuesday into the murder of six abducted Israelis—Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Alexander Lubnov, Almog Sarusi, and Sergeant Ori Danino—at the end of August. The investigation revealed that during the initial operation in the area of the tunnel, Major General Nitzan Alon did not anticipate the presence of the hostages, and the likelihood of finding them was considered low as the operation progressed.
The investigation found that Qaid Farhan Alkadi, the only survivor, was discovered alone, with no further information from him or the terrorists regarding the other hostages. It wasn’t until later that the bodies of the six abductees were found. Forensic evidence also indicated the possible involvement of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, though it remains unclear if he directly ordered their execution.
IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari condemned the murder, describing the conditions in which the hostages were held and promising to track down the perpetrators. He also stated that the leak of the hostages’ names prior to their rescue is under investigation, calling it a serious breach that jeopardized security and the families involved.
