Several bodies that could be those of kidnapped Israeli hostages were found in underground areas in Gaza, according to reports.
“At this stage, the forces are still operating in the area and carrying out a process to extract and identify the bodies, which will last several hours,” the military said in a statement obtained by the Times of Israel.
Although the IDF shared few details about the recovery, it told the Jerusalem Post that the bodies could not have been killed by any recent fight with Hamas in the area because the military did not use force nearby.
Also, the exact number of remains was not disclosed.
The Jerusalem Post also said that the identity of the bodies could not be confirmed until the remains were returned to Israel.
President Biden, meanwhile, said that the IDF was still working on identifying the bodies, according to Axios.
“It’s time this war ended,” Biden said, adding that he is “still optimistic” about the Gaza hostage and ceasefire talks.
“We think we can close the deal, they’ve all said they agree on the principles”
Soon after the announcement, the Hostage Forum announced that “Starting tomorrow the country will tremble” and will “grind to a halt,” adding that Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu abandoned the hostages.
Yair Lapid, the opposition Chairman of the Yesh Atid party, also piled on.
“Our sons and daughters are promiscuous and die in captivity and Netanyahu is busy with spins,” Lapid wrote on X, accusing the prime minister of being more concerned with the continuity of his coalition than the war or the hostages.
“On the way he crushes the families and the people of Israel. We will continue to stand by the families and hug and protect them in difficult times.”
The exact location of where the bodies were found remains under gag order, the reports said.
Israel says there are 103 hostages abducted that day remaining in Gaza, most of them Israeli, including dual nationals.
