The Israeli military has released video footage of a tunnel in the Gaza Strip where the bodies of six hostages, allegedly executed by Hamas, were found. Israel Defense Forces Spokesman Daniel Hagari presented the footage at a news conference after inspecting the tunnel.
The video shows a cramped, poorly ventilated tunnel buried 20 meters underground, accessible via a concealed shaft in a residential home in Rafah, southern Gaza. Hagari described the tunnel conditions as extremely humid, stating, “There is no air to breathe.”
Inside the tunnel, the footage revealed a chessboard, a hairbrush, USB chargers, a Kalashnikov rifle with ammunition, and flashlights. Blood stains were also visible on the floor.
Hagari claimed that the six hostages—two women and four men—were killed by Hamas militants a day before their bodies were recovered on August 31. He noted that all evidence from the tunnel has been collected for investigation, and efforts are ongoing to track down those responsible.
The discovery of the hostages’ bodies has led to widespread outrage in Israel, with many calling on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to secure the release of the remaining hostages. Hamas initially took about 250 hostages in a surprise attack on October 7, 2023, with 101 still believed to be in captivity and some reported dead.