Israeli military recovers the bodies of 6 hostages from Gaza

The Israeli military said Tuesday that it had recovered the bodies of six hostages who were taken into the Gaza Strip following the Hamas-led Oct. 7 terror attacks.

The Israeli military said Tuesday that it had recovered the bodies of six hostages who were taken into the Gaza Strip following the Hamas-led Oct. 7 terror attacks.

The Israel Defense Forces said in a statement that troops recovered the bodies in an overnight operation in the city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza.

The operation came as the United States, Egypt and Qatar pushed for a cease-fire deal that would end Israel’s monthslong military offensive in Gaza and see the release of the hostages who remain held in the enclave.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed optimism Monday, saying he'd had a "very productive" meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He said that Netanyahu had accepted a bridging proposal for a cease-fire deal and that it was "now incumbent on Hamas to do the same."

Hamas on Tuesday expressed "astonishment" at the suggestion that it was holding up a deal, calling the comments by Blinken and President Joe Biden "misleading claims" that "do not reflect the true position of the movement."

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/israeli-military-recovers-bodies-6-hostages-gaza-rcna167305

---