Murdered Hamas hostages' harrowing final moments revealed, many tried to fight off their killers: report

Some of the six Hamas hostages who were executed, including Israeli American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, reportedly tried to defend themselves before being killed.

Published on: Sep 10, 2024, 06:49:49 IST

By Sumanti Sen

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Some of the six Hamas hostages who were recently found murdered, including Israeli American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, reportedly tried to defend themselves in their final moments before being shot. The bodies of the hostages were found in a tunnel in Rafah on August 31.

A combination picture shows undated handout images of hostages Ori Danino, Carmel Gat, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Eden Yerushalmi, Alexander Lobanov, and Almog Sarusi (Courtesy of Bring Them Home Now/Handout via REUTERS)

Besides Goldberg-Polin, the other slain hostages were identified as Eden Yerushalmi, Ori Danino, Alex Lobanov, Carmel Gat, and Almog Sarusi. Their grieving relatives were told shocking details about their last moments during a briefing on the Israel Defense Forces’ investigation into the executions, Channel 12 News reported.

Many of the six victims are believed to have tried to fight off their killers and “struggled with those who shot them,” the outlet reported. According to the report, “forensic” evidence showed that “Hersh, Ori, Alex and Almog defended Eden and Carmel” before they were murdered.

Hostages were held in harsh conditions

The families of the deceased hostages were briefed by IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari. They were shown evidence from inside the tunnel and were informed that the six were held in harsh conditions after being abducted by Hamas terrorists on October 7.

The tunnel where the six were being held was just two people wide, and was too low for them to stand. No air vents, toilets or showers were there. On raiding the tunnel, the IDF found protein bars, a generator, a small flashlight and a chess set discarded there. Several notepads that were found have been given to the hostages’ families.

The autopsies of the six hostages revealed that they were shot multiple times from close range, The Times Of Israel previously revealed. The IDF said that Hamas terrorists executed the hostages shortly before their bodies were found by troops. Security officials believe they may have been killed because Hamas terrorists were afraid that a hostage who was recently rescued alive would divulge details about where the other hostages were being held.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sumanti Sen
Sumanti Sen covers everything that’s happening in the US, from politics to entertainment, but her expertise lies in covering crime news. She has comprehensively chronicled the Idaho student murders, the Laken Riley and Iryna Zarutska cases, and the killing of Charlie Kirk, among other incidents. Over the years, she has interviewed several victims/families of victims of crimes seeking justice. She digs up stories that might otherwise remain unheard, and does her bit to ensure that victims and survivors’ voices are heard. Sumanti’s many years of experience also include interviews with Hamas attack survivors and mental health experts, among others. Her coverage of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and interviews with survivors of the tragedy, coupled with her other works including the Titan submersible coverage, earned her the Digi Journo of the Quarter award during her first year at Hindustan Times. Sumanti actively tracks missing person cases in the United States, and peruses Reddit and other social media platforms to bring to light cases that frequently elude public attention. She has extensively covered the disappearances of Nancy Guthrie, Thomas Medlin, Beau Mann, and Sudiksha Konanki, among others. When not at work, you will either find her with her novels, or with her beloved rescue pooches.Read More

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