The bodies of five people who had been kidnapped by Hamas on October 7th were found by Israeli troops in a tunnel in Gaza on Sunday, according to the authorities responsible for the investigation.
Police officers Ziv Dado, Ron Sherman, Nik Beizer, Eden Zacharia, and Elia Toledano were recognized as the individuals who had passed away, as Fox News reported.
“The bodies were transferred for examination to the Pathology Institute, where the circumstances of their deaths will be confirmed,” IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said in a statement.
“We will update the families and then, with the families' approval, inform the public.”
“We share in the families' sorrow and embrace them,” he added.
This news comes as many in the Democrat party have pushed the nation of Israel, a longtime ally of the United States, have pushed the nation to stop their response to the invasion. The deaths of the kidnapped Israeli citizens serve to put further pressure on the nation and its relationship.
According to the White House, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Joe Biden discussed the ongoing military campaign that Israel is conducting in Gaza on Sunday.
Both presidents had a conversation about the importance of ensuring the release of the remaining hostages that are being held by Hamas, according to a statement released by the White House.
“The President emphasized the critical need to protect the civilian population, including those supporting the humanitarian aid operation, and the importance of allowing civilians to move safely away from areas of ongoing fighting,” it said.
According to reports, Biden and Netanyahu have already decided to maintain "regular consultation" via their respective national security teams.
Israel is "deepening" its battle in the Gaza Strip, according to Netanyahu, who stated on Sunday, and would not stop fighting until Hamas is defeated and the Israelis who have been held prisoner are returned.
"Israeli citizens, we are deepening the war in the Gaza Strip,” Netanyahu said. “We will continue to fight until the complete victory over Hamas. This is the only way to return our abductees, eliminate Hamas and ensure that Gaza will no longer be a threat to Israel.”
While ending the war would take time, Netanyahu assured Israeli citizens in Hebrew through the video message that their country will "fight to the end."
“It will take time, but we are united - the fighters (i.e. fighting soldiers), the people and the government. We are united and determined to fight to the end,” the prime minister continued.
“War has a price, a very heavy price in the lives of our heroic soldiers, and we do everything to preserve the lives of our soldiers. But one thing will not be done - we will not stop until we achieve victory," Netanyahu concluded.
