Four other Israeli hostages died in Hamas prisons

The Israeli military announced on Monday that four Israelis taken hostage by Hamas on October 7 had been confirmed dead.

The IDF said that the families of Nadav Popplewell, Yoram Metzger, Amiram Cooper and Haim Peri have been informed that they are “no longer alive” and that Hamas has their remains.

The deaths were announced as Israel’s ceasefire proposal backed by President Joe Biden is being challenged by right-wing ministers in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government who oppose any deal with Hamas.

The Israeli army said that its decision “to announce the killing of the four hostages was based on intelligence information.”

Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari said: “We estimate that the four were killed together in the Khan Yunis area several months ago while in the custody of Hamas terrorists.”

Hajri did not mention how they died. But in March, Abu Ubaida, a spokesman for the Qassam Brigades, announced that Perry, Metzger and Cooper were among the seven hostages killed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza.

Last month, Popplewell was seen in a propaganda video released by Hamas, Israeli media reported.

Popplewell, 51, was captured with his mother from their home on Kibbutz Nirim.

The community at Kibbutz Nirim said: “Kibbutz Nirim announces with deep sadness the death of kidnapped Nadav Popplewill in Hamas captivity in Gaza.” A statement was issued Monday.

Popplewell’s elderly mother, Hannah Berry, was among a group of more than a dozen Israeli hostages released on November 24 as part of a temporary ceasefire agreement.

Metzger, who was 83 years old and lived on Kibbutz Nir Oz, was last seen alive in December in a video released by Hamas.

At the time, his son Jay told NBC News that he was “really worried” about his father and that he looked “really tired.”

“He looks very sick, and so do his friends,” the younger Metzger said. “We are really concerned about their condition.”

About 125 Israeli hostages remain in captivity nearly eight months after they were kidnapped in a deadly surprise attack by Hamas that led to the ongoing war in Gaza.