The bodies of three more Hamas hostages were recovered in Gaza during an overnight operation by Israeli defense and security forces, the army announced early Friday.
Hanan Yablonka, Michel Nisenbaum, and Orion Hernandez were killed during Hamas’s terrorist massacre of Israeli citizens on October 7, and their bodies were recovered overnight, according to the Israel Defense Forces. Their families have been notified.
“We will continue operating to bring all of our hostages back home,” the IDF said on X. “May their memory be a blessing.”
The news comes less than a week after the IDF announced that it had recovered the bodies of three other hostages, who are also now believed to have been killed on October 7. Shani Louk, Amit Buskila, and Itzhak Gelerenter were killed by Hamas while fleeing the Nova outdoor music festival near the Gaza border, the Associated Press reported.
Hamas terrorist killed about 1,200 people on October 7 and kidnapped about 250 more. About half of the hostages were released during a negotiated cease-fire late last year in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Hamas is believed to still have about 100 hostages in Gaza, including some Americans.
While Israel continues to look for hostages and hunt down Hamas terrorists in Gaza, the country is under increasing international pressure to end the war.
On Friday, the International Court of Justice, acting on a request from South Africa, ordered Israel to end its ground operation in Rafah, in south Gaza, according to news reports. The court has no way of enforcing its order, and Israel is not expected to comply with it. Israel says Rafah is Hamas’s last stronghold.
Earlier this week, Ireland, Spain, and Norway formally announced that they are recognizing a Palestinian state. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the European nations of providing a “reward for terrorism.”
The International Criminal Court also recently announced that it is seeking warrants for the arrest of Netanyahu and Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant for carrying out a “widespread and systematic” attack on Palestinian civilians during the Gaza campaign. Netanyahu called the criminal charges “beyond outrageous,” echoing a comment from President Joe Biden.
Biden has also pressured Netanyahu to wind down the war, announcing earlier this month that he would not provide some Israel with some ammunition supplies if the country goes forward with a large-scale invasion of Rafah. Netanyahu vowed that if need be, Israel will “stand alone” in its fight against Hamas terrorists.