The bodies of the six hostages abducted by Hamas on October 7 and pulled from a tunnel in Rafah, southern Gaza overnight, bore gunshot wounds to the head and other parts of their bodiesreports the Israeli media, Ynet news.

According to the same source, the results of forensic investigations showed that the hostages were murdered in the last 48 hours.

It is believed that the six kidnapped KArmel Gat, 40, Eden Jerusalem, 24, Herz Goldberg-Paulin, 23, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Saroussi, 25, and Ori Danino, 25. they were transferred during the war from the north of the Strip to Rafa in the south, where they were murdered.

Autopsies conducted overnight also showed that one of the hostages had signs of being tied up. Evidence shows that they lived in harsh conditions and had not bathed for a long time. In addition, there was evidence of injuries sustained during their abduction, which were treated over time.

Israel recovered the bodies of six hostages in Gaza including his own Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-PaulinUS President Joe Biden said on Saturday night (Sunday morning Greek time).

“Earlier today [σ.σ. Σάββατο]in a tunnel under the town of Rafah, Israeli forces recovered the bodies of six hostages held by Hamas,” Biden said in a statement issued by the White House. “I am devastated and outraged.”

The Israeli military said in a statement issued early this morning that the bodies of Carmel Gat, Hersh Goldberg-Pollin, Eden Yerushalmi, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Saroussi and Ori Danino were taken to Israel.

“According to our initial assessment, they were brutally murdered by Hamas terrorists shortly before we reached them,” army spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari told reporters.

A few days earlier, Kaid Farhan Alqadi, a member of southern Israel’s Bedouin community, was rescued about a kilometer away, the military said.

After Arkadi was found, Israeli soldiers were ordered to be more vigilant because of the possibility that other hostages were in the area, but there was no specific information on where the hostages were, Haggari said.

Five of the six hostages — aged 23 to 32 — were seized at the tecno Nova music festival by Hamas militants during the deadly Oct. 7 attack on Israel that killed 1,205 people, most of them civilians, according to by AFP count based on official data.

Of the 251 people abducted, 97 are still in Gaza, 33 of whom have been declared dead by the army.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallad maintains that the six hostages were alive when they were kidnapped by Hamas and then “murdered in cold blood by Hamas.”

The United States, Qatar and Egypt are still working to reach a ceasefire agreement and the release of hostages held in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons.

“A deal to return the hostages has been on the table for two months. Without the delays, sabotage and pretexts, those whose deaths we learned this morning would certainly still be alive,” the Hostage Families Forum said today.

“It is time to bring our hostages back home so we can help the living recover and give the dead the burial they deserve,” the Forum continued in its statement.

The Forum clarifies that Alexander Lomanov had fathered a child who is now five months old during his captivity.

“The heart of the entire nation is breaking into a thousand pieces,” Israeli President Isaac Herzog said, according to a statement from his office.

“We will continue to fight relentlessly against the criminal terrorist organization Hamas,” Herzog added.

Goldberg-Paulin, who was taken hostage during a music festival near Gaza, appeared in a video released by Hamas in late April.

“He had just turned 23. He was planning to travel the world,” Biden said. His parents, Rachel Goldberg and John Palin, “were courageous, wise and steadfast even as they endured what they could not have imagined,” Biden said.

“They fought relentlessly for their son and all the hostages held in unacceptable conditions. I admire them and mourn with them more deeply than words can express,” the president said.

Biden pledged that “the leaders of Hamas will pay for their crimes. And we will continue to work around the clock for an agreement that will secure the release of the remaining hostages.”

Vice President Kamala Harris said in a statement that she strongly condemns Hamas’ continued brutality, and so should the world. Harris, the Democratic nominee to succeed Biden, said she and the president would remain unwavering in their commitment to free Americans and all hostages held in Gaza.

Speaking to reporters earlier in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, Biden said he remained “optimistic” that a ceasefire agreement would be reached to end the war.

“I think we’re close to having a deal,” he said. “It’s time for this war to end.”

Biden added that “meetings are still taking place.”

“I think we can close the deal, everyone has said they agree on the principles” that will govern it, the American president said.