A week has passed since the six hostages murdered in Hamas captivity were laid to rest, and new details are being published that add depth to the moments of terror and heroism they experienced in their final days.
Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Eden Yerushalmi, Uri Danino, Alex Lobanov, Almog Sarusi, and Carmel Gat were found together, trying to defend and protect each other during their struggle against Hamas terrorists.
Forensic findings reveal that four of the hostages – Hersh, Uri, Alex, and Almog – tried to physically protect Eden and Carmel during the terrifying moments of the struggle against the terrorists, according to the report on Channel 13 tonight.
Additionally, the hostages were held in extremely harsh conditions in a humid narrow tunnel, where they existed in inhumane conditions. The tunnel lacked air vents, had no toilets or showers, and the hostages were forced to use water bottles for both drinking and washing.
According to a report presented to the families, the terrorists murdered the hostages about a day before IDF forces reached the tunnel where they were held.
Investigation findings indicate that the six hostages suffered from severe hunger, drastic weight loss, and severe neglect. For example, Eden Yerushalmi weighed only 36 kilograms. A few protein bars were found in the tunnel, but they were not enough to prevent starvation. Additional findings were also revealed, such as a chess board, writing materials, and notebooks that were collected and will be transferred to the families.
One of the families stated: "They did everything to survive, and the government didn't save them." This criticism reflects the difficult feelings among the families, who are still processing the pain and grief, alongside the feeling that the tragedy might have been preventable, as reported by Yolan Cohen on Channel 12.
The horrific findings were revealed after IDF forces located the bodies of the hostages on August 31, 2024, at a depth of about 20 meters in a tunnel in Rafah, about a kilometer from where the hostage Farhan Qadi was released. The bodies were found in a difficult state, with signs of gunshot wounds to the head and limbs, and the IDF estimated that the terrorists fled the scene shortly before the forces arrived.
Despite the impossible conditions in which the hostages were held, they managed to survive 330 days in captivity before being murdered by Hamas terrorists, who feared an imminent rescue operation by the IDF.