Among the victims were three elderly men who appeared in a propaganda video released by Hamas in December. IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said the four died along with Khan Younis while Israeli troops were operating in the city.
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On Monday the Israeli army confirmed the death of four other hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Stripincluding three elderly men who appeared in a video released in December by the Palestinian Islamist group under the title “Don’t let us grow old here.”
The three men, Amiram Cooper, Yoram Metzger and Haim Peri, had all 80 years or older. The fourth hostage was identified as Nadav Popplewell.
Israel Defense Forces spokesman Daniel Hagari said the four men are died together in the city of Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, when Israel was operating there. The cause of death was not immediately released.
In May Hamas declared that Popplewell had died after being wounded in an Israeli airstrike, but had not provided any evidence. Cooper, Metzger and Peri were appeared in a Hamas propaganda video in which Peri claimed that all three men had chronic illnesses and accused Israel of abandoning them.
The four deaths added to the growing list of hostages who Israel says have died in captivity. Of the approximately 130 hostages still held in the Strip, it is estimated that 85 are still alivethis while on the negotiating table there is a new truce proposal.
