Hamas executed six hostages before Israeli forces found them

Six individuals held captive in Gaza by Hamas have been confirmed dead, executed the evening prior to Israeli forces reaching the location, as reported by government officials. Among the victims was 23-year-old American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

The execution is believed to have taken place on the evening of Aug. 29. IDF's investigations, supported by postmortem examinations of the bodies, led to this harrowing conclusion. The IDF successfully located the tunnel and uncovered the grim scene on Aug. 30. Israeli officials suspect that two assailants, armed with separate weapons, perpetrated the heinous act, as evidenced by found AK-47 magazines and shell casings in close proximity.

The shell casings  and AK-47 magazines discovered at the scene further provide evidence of the savage execution. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, spokesperson for the IDF, described the horrifying moment, stating, "It was a hard moment to see the bloodstains on the floor."

Descriptive Accounts of the Tunnel

To offer insight into the conditions endured by the victims, the families were presented with footage of the 20-meter-deep tunnel where their loved ones were held captive. The tunnel, approximately 120 meters in length and positioned about 20 meters underground, presented a tight and suffocating space, measuring around 5 and a half feet in height, restricting any possibility for the victims to stand fully.

In a bid to reveal the gruesome reality of the captives' confinement, the IDF made public some of the footage, depicting the tunnel's location beneath a child's bedroom adorned with Mickey Mouse and Snow White decorations. Rear Admiral Hagari emphasized the somber discovery, pointing at blood stains and the personal effects left behind, including bottles of beverages, a hair brush, power chargers, and ammunition. He lamented, "They were heroes, and they were here in this tunnel for weeks or days; we will find out. But they were here in this tunnel in horrific conditions where there is no air to breathe, where you cannot stand. And they survived, but they were murdered by terrorists."