The Israeli army says it has confirmed the deaths of four more people kidnapped by Hamas on October 7.
It said the four were killed while together during an Israeli operation in Khan Younis in southern Gaza, adding that their bodies were still in the hands of the militants.
The men were named as British-Israeli Nadav Popplewell, 51, Chaim Peri, 79, Yoram Metzger, 80, and Amiram Cooper, 85.
IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said intelligence gathered in recent weeks led to the assessment.
“We estimate that all four were killed while together in the Khan Younis area during our operation there against Hamas,” he said, without giving further details.
Last month, Hamas claimed that Nadav Popplewell had been killed in an Israeli attack in April. The British Foreign Office said it was investigating, but there was no confirmation of his death so far.
Hamas released a video in December showing the other three men.
All four hostages were kidnapped on October 7 from kibbutzim near the Gaza Strip.
In a statement through the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, family members said news of the men’s deaths “should lead every leader to deep soul-searching.”
The statement added: “Chaim, Yoram, Amiram and Nadav were abducted alive, some of them were with other hostages who returned in the previous deal – and they should have returned alive to their countries and their families.”
British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said in a post on “My thoughts are with his loved ones at this terrible time for them,” he added.
Nadav Popplewell was kidnapped from his home along with his mother, who was eventually released. His brother Roy was killed in the attack.
Israeli authorities say Hamas has killed about 1,200 people and taken 251 others hostage in its attacks on southern Israel.
The group released 105 civilians during a weeklong ceasefire in November.
About 120 hostages are still missing. Israeli officials have said many are presumed dead.
Israel launched a military campaign to destroy Hamas in response to the cross-border attack.
At least 36,470 people have been killed in Gaza in nearly eight months, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry.
